By Scott Mammoser, Team FSO contributing writer
Photos by Robin Ritoss
SEOUL – Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan landed four quads to fend off home favorite Junhwan Cha of Korea for the men’s title of the Four Continents Championships on Saturday. American Jimmy Ma collected the bronze medal.
The 20-year-old Shaidorov opened with his triple Axel-single Euler-quad Salchow combination, an element he is the first in history to land in competition. He later landed a quad toeloop-triple toeloop to conclude his “Moonlight Sonata” and “Take On Me” performance with 285.10 points. His win reflected that of countryman Denis Ten, who won the gold in the same event 10 years earlier at the same arena.
“The emotions are all running right now,” Shaidorov said. “I am very pleased with my performance today, and hopefully, in the World Championships, I can perform, as well. This is very meaningful, and I can’t really describe my emotions right now.”
Cha, who has won nine-consecutive Korean national championships, opened with a quad Salchow, and moved up from fourth after the short program with a score of 265.02 points. It was his third Four Continents medal, adding to his gold from 2022 and bronze from last season.
“The energy from the audience was totally amazing today,” the 23-year-old Cha said. “Coming to the Four Continents this time was kind of tough because of the busy schedule, but I think I really did my best today.”
The Korean and Kazakh skaters have a budding rivalry going this winter. Only one week earlier, Cha won the gold medal in the Asian Games at Harbin, China, with Shaidorov placing in bronze. Cha also edged fourth-place Shaidorov for the bronze at the World University Games in Torino, Italy, in January.
“When we had Four Continents in Korea five years ago,” Cha said, “I wanted to medal, and I came fifth. That was below my goal, and I think this time, I achieved my goal. Also, from last season to mid-this season, I was really struggling with my injuries, but entering the second half of this season, I have showed more recovery than before. This medal gives me more motivation.”
As momentous as it was for Shaidorov to find the top of the podium and for the crowd-pleasing Cha to execute, Ma became another sentimental choice. The 29-year-old Ma represents the Skating Club of Boston, which lost several members on the American Airlines flight 5342 that crashed last month. Just as he did following his second-place short program, Ma and coach Alexei Letov held up photos of the victims in the kiss-and-cry area.
“I came into this free skate today with no expectations,” said Ma, who recorded 245.01 points. “I really wanted to just perform for myself. Everybody, especially in the top six, were very talented people. I wanted to put a performance out there that I was proud of. I have this long-running bad luck where every time I am in the top three after the short, I haven’t been able to pull it together in the free skate. So being able to do that today, in front of an amazing crowd, it’s a good feeling.”
Ma was in bronze position at U.S. Nationals in January, before slipping to fifth. It is his first medal at a major international competition, outside for the Challenger Series. He is the first American man to medal at Four Continents since Jason Brown in 2020- also at Mokdong Ice Arena.
The three Japanese skaters – Kazuki Tomono, Tatsuya Tsuboi and Kao Miura – finished fourth through sixth. It marked the first time a Japanese man didn’t medal at Four Continents since 2016, when Patrick Chan, Jin Boyang and Yan Han were the top three. In seventh was Hyungyeom Kim of Korea, who won the Youth Olympic Games in Gangwon last year. Americans Camden Pulkinen and Tomoki Hiwatashi were eight and ninth, climbing from 16th and 15th after the short program.
“I am a little upset with that second half,” said Pulkinen, who juggles skating with working corporate strategy at a bank. “I had some pain in my back, and I let that distract me a bit. I am not making excuses, but I am happy overall, with how the fight went. I want to take care of the body, with next year being the Olympic year. I think I am in a good position for it, and I have some ideas of how to get there.”
Pulkinen had two prior Four Continents appearances, while Hiwatashi was making his fifth attempt at the competition.
“The toeloop didn’t happen in either the short or long,” Hiwatashi said. “Other than that, things have gotten a lot more consistent. The triple Axel is there. The triple Lutz yesterday was a bit of a flop. Overall, I think I am more consistent.”
Hiwatashi added that he will go back to Kyoto, where he trains and prepare for the upcoming Olympic season.
