Japanese figure skater Yuma Kagiyama has taken the Olympics by storm with his self-expression and flawless technique.
The 22-year-old three-time Olympic silver medalist is keeping American favorite Ilia Malinin on his toes.
“In sports, you never know what happens until it ends. So I hope to give my 100% during the free skate and hopefully the result will come along,” Kagiyama said.
Here’s everything you need to know about Yuma Kagiyama’s family and coaches.
1. Yuma’s Father, Masakazu Kagiyama, is Not Only His Coach But Also a Former Olympic Skater
Yuma’s dad, Masakazu Kagiyama, is not only his coach but also a former Olympian who skated at the 1992 and 1994 Olympics. He introduced Yuma to the world of ice skating at the age of five, and since then, he has been a source of motivation and a safe space for Yuma.
“My father used to skate competitively,” Yuma said in an interview for the 2020 Winter Youth Olympics. “He’s a coach now, so that’s how I got into it. At first I was just playing around but I started to like it more and more. I was five then.”
Misao Sato, an assistant coach for Masakazu and Yuma’s choreographer, provided more information on the father-son relationship back in 2022.
“Most of the communication between Masakazu Kagiyama and Yuma takes place at home,” Sato wrote. “Mr Kagiyama is a very serious man. He doesn’t favor Yuma over his other students. Probably rather the opposite. He can do that because he believes in his son.”
2. Masakazu is Embracing Yuma’s Olympic Mindset
Yuma is aiming for a Gold Medal, and is trained endlessly to “beat the me from four years ago.” His father, Masakazu, is fully embracing his mindset and made some comments.
“This might be the first time he’s asserted his own will. I’m happy, or rather, I just thought, ‘So you’re doing it,'” he said with a smile. “I never forced anything on him; we always discussed things. If he’s made a strong decision himself, I welcome it.”
It’s been a challenge for the father-son duo over the years, but Yuma’s hard work is showing at the 2026 Olympics in Italy.
3. Yuma’s Choreographer, Misao Sato, Took Over When Masakazu Suffered an Intracerebral Hemorrhage
Back in 2018, Masakazu suffered an intracerebral hemorrhage, which hospitalized him for most of the 2018-2019 season. Yuma had to turn to Misao Sato, his choreographer, to improve his self-expression during that time.
Now, it’s on full display as he’s had a remarkable turnaround in self-expression thanks in large part to Misao Sato. Now, Sato mentions how Yuma has grown as a skater and essentially practices on his own.
“Yuma basically practices on his own. During public sessions, he goes through all his elements and moves by himself,” Sato noted. “During figure skating sessions, he would go over to the boards to talk with his father only when there is something he has trouble with or needs confirmation on.”
4. There’s No Public Information on Yuma’s Mother
Unfortunately, it’s hard to find any information on Yuma’s mother. Only mentions of his father, Masakazu. However, in an interview back in 2020 for the Winter Youth Olympics, Yuma mentions the support of his parents when talking about what he’s grateful for.
“That I can continue to skate with the support of my parents, family, manager and the federation. I’m also grateful for my fans who support me all the time. They support me and say warm words to me every time I compete. I really want to thank all the people who are supporting me.”
5. Masakazu and Yuma Have Gold Set in Their Minds
After having a terrific 108.67 points and a less-convincing 103.07 points the following day, the father-son duo still have Gold set in their minds.
“When I give it my 100%, I’m ready to accept whatever the result is,” Yuma said. “I’m trying to catch up by playing more offense, adding more quadruple jumps and increasing my offensive power, so I really do want to catch up.”
He also added that he plans to bring the audience into the performance. “I want the Italian audience to feel, to see me enjoy being free, and also that I’m enjoying skating with this music so much. I hope to transfer that feeling to the Italian audience.”
Masakazu added that he has full trust in his son, and with all the hard work, there’s no limit to what he can accomplish.
Yuma Kagiyama’s Family & Coach: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know