In brief
Mao Shimada scored 82.11 points in the women's short program, claiming first place at Skate Canada International. Rio Nakata, who led after the men's short program, finished second overall after mistakes in his free skate. Both skaters expressed frustration over performance errors but remain optimistic about future competitions.
In Kelowna, Canada, on Oct. 31, 2026, Japanese skaters Mao Shimada and Rio Nakata made headlines at Skate Canada International. Shimada, 18, opened the women’s short program with a triple axel, a triple lutz‑triple toe loop combination, and flawless spins, earning a personal‑best 82.11 points to lead the field.
«I’m really surprised by the score,» Shimada said, noting that an under‑rotated triple flip and a 12‑point undercut on the triple flip made room for improvement. She also landed her first competitive quadruple toe loop. In the women’s final standings, Isabeau Levito of the United States took second place with 78.50 points, Niina Petrokina of Estonia placed third with 77.24, and Japanese skater Saki Miyake finished fourth with 71.95.
Nakata, 18 and a two‑time junior world champion, led the men’s short program but fell in the free skate. He successfully executed a quads salchow at the start but turned two subsequent quadruple toe loops into double jumps, which cost him 156.61 points in the free program. The errors left his total score at 249.25, falling behind French skater Kevin Aymoz, who won the event with 258.43 points. After the fall, Nakata expressed frustration: «It’s really pathetic not being able to finish things off here. I’m frustrated and I feel I’m weak. I’ve only been aiming for first place and frankly second doesn’t make me happy. I want to push myself more.»
Mihhail Selevko of Estonia secured third place overall with a 248.66 total, topped by a free skate score of 169.08. The men’s event saw Japanese skater Kazuki Tomono place sixth with 222.85 points. Shimada’s victory in Kelowna highlights Japan’s growing talent in figure skating, especially after the International Skating Union’s age regulation change in 2022 that affected her Olympic eligibility.
