Post-FS interview with Shoma, February 17th: Part 2
You have won the Olympic silver medal. How do you feel after skating?
S: I don’t feel anything special. It doesn’t even feel real. I’m more happy that I was able to perform like myself than my placement itself.
What impact will this have on those close to you?
S: I think they will be happy because I was able to perform like myself and not because I won the silver medal at the Olympics.
How do you feel looking back on today’s competition?
S: From the beginning to the end, I was able to avoid losing to myself, so it was a good performance. It didn’t start too well when I first stepped onto the ice. I thought, “What’s going to happen?” I have trained hard in order to avoid making mistakes no matter how bad my condition is. I don’t feel any regret from today’s performance. It wasn’t a great performance, but I was able to show the things I have worked on so this is a happy silver medal for me.
You were last to skate. What were your emotions?
S: I hated it. I watched everyone’s performances, saw everyone’s scores, and I was thinking of what type of performance will land me in which placements. I calculated that if I didn’t make any mistakes and skated perfectly, I would be first. When I fell on the loop, I chuckled.
Did any part of you wish to place above Hanyu?
S: Of course, but after watching his performance, I knew I would only be able to surpass him if I skated even more perfectly than he did, and I headed into my performance with that in mind. After falling on the loop, I decided to just think about myself.
Again, what did it feel like to experience the Olympic Games?
S: I didn’t feel anything special to the very end. Coach Higuchi was the happiest she’s ever been, so that made me really happy. It didn’t feel any different to winning a silver medal elsewhere. I know it must be a special place for Hanyu, but I don’t have any special emotion towards it. This competition to me just feels like one of many competitions, and that feeling stayed to the end.
Before the awards ceremony, we saw you three hugging.
S: I don’t understand English, so I didn’t get what they were talking about, so I was just guessing that it was about being in the same club and about Javier’s career coming closer to the end. I was in the hug, but I didn’t understand what they were saying while they were crying.
What are some differences between you and Hanyu? What parts of Hanyu do you look up to?
S: By watching Javier and Hanyu, I realised that I really lack the ability to land jumps with high GOEs. During practices, I can land jumps that would get high GOEs once every few jumps. But at competitions, my jumps get overly packed. I think it is crucial for me to experience landing good jumps in competitions. Considering the condition I was in today, my jumps were pretty good. I would like to make my performances even better and better.
What part of your practices were you able to show today?
S: The 4T. I wasn’t confident going into it, but I somehow landed it. If this was in the first half of this season, I’m sure I would’ve messed it up.
You were smiling a lot during your performance.
S: I was able to skate with a constant smile on my face. I do want to win someday, but it’s important to critically think about how to win, rather than just wanting to win.
You and Hanyu accomplished a 1-2 finish.
S: We both fought intensely, both against our own selves. I am really happy of our results. He is my ultimate goal and an athlete I look up to. Ever since I was younger, I’ve realized that winning Japanese Nationals is the most difficult thing in the world to accomplish. I wish to chase him forever.
How do you feel about the Beijing Olympics?
S: I don’t really think about the future. I don’t know what will happen from now on. I don’t have anything specific in mind. This season, I didn’t get to compete in the same competitions as Hanyu. In comparison to those competitions, I didn’t get as much media attention here, and it felt really relaxing to not have the pressure. I would like to have that relaxation [by being in the same competition as Hanyu] for a bit more.
S: I was really satisfied with my life in the Olympic Village because I got to game a lot more than I get to in Japan. It was fun that I got to have a lazy lifestyle here. But after this, I will return to Japan to practice. I would like to practice in preparation for the World Championships.
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