Shun Sato (figure skater)

Shun Sato (佐藤 駿, Sato Shun, born February 6, 2004) is a Japanese figure skater. He is the 2020 Bavarian Open champion, the 2019–20 Junior Grand Prix Final champion, and a two-time Japan Junior national silver medalist. He is the junior world record holder for the men's free skating and combined total score.

Shun Sato
Personal information
Native name佐藤 駿
Country represented Japan
Born (2004-02-06) February 6, 2004
Sendai, Japan
Home townSaitama
Height1.60 m (5 ft 3 in)
CoachKeiko Asano, Tadao Kusaka
ChoreographerMasahiro Kawagoe, Misao Sato
Skating clubSaitama Sakae High School
Training locationsSaitama
Began skating2009
ISU personal best scores
Combined total255.11 (JWR)
2019–20 Junior Grand Prix Final
Short program79.19
2019 JGP United States
Free skate177.86 (JWR)
2019–20 Junior Grand Prix Final
Medal record
Representing  Japan
Junior Grand Prix Final
2019–20 TurinMen's singles

Personal life

Sato was born on February 6, 2004 in Sendai, Japan.[1]

His favorite animals are pandas.[2] Sato's figure skating idol is fellow Sendai native Yuzuru Hanyu, who gave him an amulet when Sato was five years old.[2]

Career

Early career

Sato began skating in 2009.[1] He is a four-time Japanese national novice champion and the 2018–19 Japanese national junior silver medalist. On the junior level, Sato is also the 2018 Bavarian Open silver medalist and the 2019 International Challenge Cup champion.

As the four-time Japanese national novice champion, Sato was invited to skate in the gala at the 2015 NHK Trophy, 2016 NHK Trophy and 2017 World Team Trophy. He was also invited to skate in the gala at the 2019 World Championships as the silver medalist in 2018 Japanese junior nationals.

2019–2020 season

Sato won the gold medal in his Junior Grand Prix debut at 2019 JGP United States, ahead of reigning JGP Final champion Stephen Gogolev of Canada.[3] He then won bronze at 2019 JGP Croatia. Sato's results qualified him to the 2019–20 Junior Grand Prix Final. At the JGP Final, he set new junior world records for the free skating and the combined score en route to winning the gold medal, ahead of Russians Andrei Mozalev and Daniil Samsonov.[2] He remarked "I was surprised that I could win here."[4]

Sato won the silver medal at the 2019–20 Japan Junior Championships, behind Yuma Kagiyama and ahead of Lucas Tsuyoshi Honda.[5] As a result, he was invited to compete in the senior division at the 2019–20 Japan Championships, alongside the rest of the top six finishers in the junior division. Sato placed fifth in the senior event and was named to the team for the 2020 World Junior Championships with Kagiyama, and placed sixth there.[6]

Programs
Season Short program Free skating Exhibition
2019–2020
[1]
2018–2019
[7]
2017–2018
[8]

    Competitive highlights

    JGP: Junior Grand Prix

    International[9]
    Event 13–14 14–15 15–16 16–17 17–18 18–19 19–20
    Bavarian Open1st
    International: Junior[9]
    Junior Worlds6th
    JGP Final1st
    JGP Croatia3rd
    JGP USA1st
    Challenge Cup1st
    Bavarian Open2nd
    International: Advanced novice[10]
    Asian Trophy1st
    Bavarian Open3rd
    Gardena Trophy2nd
    National[9]
    Japan Champ.16th12th5th
    Japan Junior15th15th6th2nd2nd
    Japan Novice1st B1st B1st A1st A
    TBD = Assigned; WD = Withdrew

    Detailed results

    Junior level
    2019–20 season
    Date Event Level SP FS Total
    March 2–8, 2020 2020 World Junior Championships Junior 5
    79.30    		 6
    142.32    		 6
    221.62
    February 3–9, 2020 2020 Bavarian Open Senior 1
    82.18    		 1
    160.13    		 1
    242.31
    December 18–22, 2019 2019–20 Japan Championships Senior 3
    82.68    		 6
    163.82    		 5
    246.50
    December 5–8, 2019 2019–20 Junior Grand Prix Final Junior 3
    77.25    		 1
    177.86    		 1
    255.11
    November 15–17, 2019 2019–20 Japan Junior Championships Junior 3
    74.19    		 2
    139.01    		 2
    213.20
    September 25–28, 2019 2019 JGP Croatia Junior 4
    78.41    		 4
    141.28    		 3
    219.69
    August 28–31, 2019 2019 JGP United States Junior 1
    79.19    		 1
    137.93    		 1
    217.12
    2018–19 season
    Date Event Level SP FS Total
    February 21–24, 2019 International Challenge Cup Junior 1
    71.17    		 1
    128.67    		 1
    199.84
    December 20–24, 2018 2018–19 Japan Championships Senior 16
    64.89    		 9
    140.06    		 12
    204.95
    November 23–25, 2018 2018–19 Japan Junior Championships Junior 6
    66.01    		 1
    156.29    		 2
    222.30
    2017–18 season
    January 26–31, 2018 2018 Bavarian Open Junior 1
    63.71    		 3
    119.63    		 2
    183.34
    December 20–24, 2017 2017–18 Japan Championships Senior 20
    57.77    		 16
    127.75    		 6
    185.52
    November 24–26, 2017 2017–18 Japan Junior Championships Junior 11
    59.64    		 6
    120.56    		 6
    180.20
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    References
    1. "Shun SATO". International Skating Union.
    2. Griffiths, Rachel; Jiwani, Rory (December 7, 2019). "Nathan Chen wins epic free skate battle over Yuzuru Hanyu at Grand Prix Final". Olympic Channel.
    3. Gallagher, Jack (September 3, 2019). "Shun Sato stellar in Lake Placid JGP victory". The Japan Times.
    4. Slater, Paula (December 7, 2019). "Japan's Sato stuns at Junior Grand Prix Final; snatches gold". Golden Skate.
    5. Gallagher, Jack (November 17, 2019). "Yuma Kagiyama, Mana Kawabe leave rivals in dust to win at Japan Junior Championships". The Japan Times.
    6. Slater, Paula (March 6, 2020). "Andrei Mozalev nabs Junior World title". Golden Skate.
    7. "Shun SATO". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on March 22, 2019.
    8. "Shun SATO". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on August 5, 2018.
    9. "Shun SATO: Competition Results". International Skating Union.
    10. "Shun SATO". rinkresults.com.
    World Junior Record Holders
    Preceded by
    Daniil Samsonov    		 Men's Junior Free Skating
    December 7, 2019 – present    		 Succeeded by
    Incumbent
    Preceded by
    Daniil Samsonov    		 Men's Junior Total Score
    December 7, 2019 – present    		 Succeeded by
    Incumbent
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