Yuna Aoki (Japanese: 青木祐奈[2] born 10 January 2002) is a Japanese competitive figure skater. She is the 2024 NHK Trophy bronze medalist, 2019 Bavarian Open silver medalist, the 2023 Triglav Trophy silver medalist, and the 2024 Challenge Cup silver medalist.
| Yuna Aoki | |
|---|---|
| Native name | 青木 祐奈 |
| Born | 10 January 2002 Yokohama, Japan |
| Height | 1.55 m (5 ft 1 in)[1] |
| Figure skating career | |
| Country |  Japan |
| Coach | Kensuke Nakaniwa, Makoto Nakata, Momoe Naguma, Aya Tanoue |
| Skating club | MF Academy |
| Began skating | 2007 |
Personal life
editAoki was born on January 10, 2002, in Yokohama, Japan.[3] She graduated from Nihon University in 2024, where she earned a degree in the School of Sports Sciences.[4]
Aoki has expressed interest in becoming a choreographer after finishing her competitive skating career.[5][4]
Career
editEarly career
editAoki started skating at age five after being inspired by Shizuka Arakawa's 2006 Olympic victory.[6]: 2 Shoichiro Tsuzuki would begin coaching her at the age of six.[6]: 1
As an advanced novice skater, Aoki won the silver medal at the 2013–14 Japanese Novice Championships and went on to place fifteenth at the Japan Junior Championships.[7] The following season, she won the 2024–15 Japan Novice Championships before placing fifth at the 2014–15 Japan Junior Championships. During the 2015 World Team Trophy, Aoki was invited to perform in the gala.[8][9]
2015–16 season: Junior debut and injury
editShortly before the 2015–16 season, Aoki developed spondylolysis following a hard fall on a triple axel attempt in practice. This injury greatly hindered her training. Looking back on this injury, Aoki stated, "It first took a year for my spine to separate, and then another year after that. It hurt when I was skating, and even moving back and forth in my daily life hurt. Jumping hurt, and spins and other movements that require a lot of bending are a strain on my body." She further detailed how her parents tried encouraging her to quit skating due to how much pain she was in but Aoki persisted onwards due to her love for the sport.[5][10]
In spite of this, Aoki debuted on the ISU Junior Grand Prix circuit, placing seventh at 2015 JGP Latvia. She would then go on to finish seventh at the 2015–16 Japanese Junior Championships and sixteenth at the senior championships.[7][8]
2016–17 season
editCompeting on the Junior Grand Prix series for a second time, Aoki finished fourth at 2016 JGP Czech Republic and fifth at 2016 JGP Germany. She then ended the season by finishing ninth at the 2016–17 Japanese Junior Championships.[7][8]
2018–19, 2019–2020, & 2020–21 seasons: Struggles and injury
editAoki began the season by finishing seventh at 2018 JGP Canada. She then placed fifth at the Japan Junior Championships and fourteenth at the senior event. Aoki went on to make her senior international debut at the 2019 Bavarian Open, where she won the silver medal.[7][8]
Following the season, Aoki injured her left ankle and required surgery to treat it. This would cause her to miss the whole 2019–20 season.[5] She would return to competition during the subsequent season and finished nineteenth at the 2020–21 Japan Championships.[11]
Competing at the 2021–22 Japan Championships the following year, Aoki placed thirtieth in the short program and did not advance to the free skate. She would later describe this to be a dark point in her life and had deliberated on whether or not she should continue skating.[11] "Looking back, after going through a long and difficult period," Aoki later stated, "There were many times when I thought about quitting skating. I have had the support of many people and I have always loved skating. Figure skating is an indispensable part of me. I feel most confident on the ice."
Upon deciding that she wanted to continue competing, Aoki decided that she was in need of a fresh start. In April 2022, she moved from her hometown of Yokohama to Chiba so she could train under Kensuke Nakaniwa, Makoto Nakata, Momoe Naguma, and Aya Tanoue at the MF Skating Academy.[12][8][5]
2022–23 season
editAt the Japan Championships, Aoki placed tenth in the short program and sixth in the free skate, finishing in seventh place overall. This was her first time finishing in the top ten at the senior national championships.[7]
She then competed at the 2023 Triglav Trophy, where she won the silver medal behind Hana Yoshida.[11]
2023–24 season
editAoki was invited to make her Grand Prix debut at the 2023 NHK Trophy, where she placed eighth in the short program after receiving three underrotation calls on jumps, though she observed that despite this she landed them "comfortably." In the free skate she received only one quarter underrotation call, placing fifth in that segment and rising to fifth place overall.[13] Aoki said she was "very happy to have been able to show my personal skating skills without mistakes on such a big stage."[14]
She went on to finish ninth at the 2023–24 Japan Championships, before closing her season with a silver medal win at the 2024 Challenge Cup.[15][7]
2024–25 season
editBeginning her season on the 2024–25 Grand Prix series, Aoki finished seventh at 2024 Skate America.[7] She then competed at the 2024 NHK Trophy as the host pick, where she gained a new personal best short program score by over eleven points, with 69.78[16]. Aoki finished fifth in the free skate segment, but her lead from the short program put her third overall with a new personal best total score of 195.07, successfully taking her first Grand Prix medal, and rouding out a Japanese women's podium sweep at the competition alongside Kaori Sakamoto and Mone Chiba.[17] Following the event, Aoki would express elation at the result saying, "I competed in the Junior Grand Prix but I never stood on the podium. So at this age, just standing on the podium, I'm so grateful for it. I'm so glad that I kept on going."[18]
Programs
editCompetitive highlights
editSenior results
editGP: Grand Prix; CS: Challenger Series
| International[7] | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event | 15–16 | 18–19 | 20–21 | 21–22 | 22–23 | 23–24 | 24–25 |
| GP NHK Trophy | 5th | 3rd | |||||
| GP Skate America | 7th | ||||||
| Bavarian Open | 2nd | ||||||
| Challenge Cup | 2nd | ||||||
| Triglav Trophy | 2nd | ||||||
| National[2][8] | |||||||
| Japan | 16th | 14th | 19th | 30th | 7th | 9th | |
| Japan Eastern Sect. | 8th | 2nd | 2nd | 1st | |||
| Tokyo Reg. | 8th | 5th | 4th | 3rd | 3rd | ||
| TBD = Assigned; WD = Withdrew; C = Cancelled | |||||||
Junior and novice results
editJGP: Junior Grand Prix
| International: Junior[7] | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event | 11–12 | 12–13 | 13–14 | 14–15 | 15–16 | 16–17 | 17–18 | 18–19 |
| JGP Canada | 7th | |||||||
| JGP Czech Rep. | 4th | |||||||
| JGP Germany | 5th | |||||||
| JGP Latvia | 7th | |||||||
| Asian Open | 1st | |||||||
| Bavarian Open | 2nd | |||||||
| International: Advanced novice[2] | ||||||||
| Asian Open | 1st | |||||||
| Challenge Cup | 1st | |||||||
| Coupe Printemps | 1st | |||||||
| National[2][8] | ||||||||
| Japan Junior | 15th | 5th | 7th | 9th | 17th | 5th | ||
| Japan Novice | 12th B | 9th B | 2nd A | 1st A | ||||
| Japan Eastern Sect. | 2nd J | 2nd J | 4th J | 4th J | ||||
| Kanto Reg. | 2nd B | 1st B | 1st A | 1st A | 1st J | 2nd J | 1st J | |
| TBD = Assigned; WD = Withdrew; C = Cancelled Levels: A = Novice A; B = Novice B; J = Junior | ||||||||
Detailed results
edit| Segment | Type | Score | Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | TSS | 195.07 | 2024 NHK Trophy |
| Short program | TSS | 69.78 | 2024 NHK Trophy |
| TES | 36.89 | 2024 NHK Trophy | |
| PCS | 32.89 | 2024 NHK Trophy | |
| Free skating | TSS | 126.52 | 2024 Skate America |
| TES | 64.52 | 2024 Skate America | |
| PCS | 67.04 | 2024 NHK Trophy |
| Segment | Type | Score | Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | TSS | 169.60 | 2016 JGP Germany |
| Short program | TSS | 56.67 | 2015 JGP Latvia |
| TES | 32.04 | 2015 JGP Latvia | |
| PCS | 26.37 | 2016 JGP Germany | |
| Free skating | TSS | 113.13 | 2016 JGP Germany |
| TES | 61.07 | 2016 JGP Germany | |
| PCS | 54.06 | 2016 JGP Germany |
Small medals for short and free programs awarded only at ISU Championships. At team events, medals are awarded for team results only. Bolded scores reflect an ISU personal best.
Senior level
edit| 2024–2025 season | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| November 8–10, 2024 | 2024 NHK Trophy | 3 69.78 |
5 125.29 |
3 195.07 |
| October 18–20, 2024 | 2024 Skate America | 10 56.51 |
4 126.52 |
7 183.03 |
| September 20–23, 2024 | 2024 Tokyo Regional Championships | 4 56.82 |
1 127.64 |
3 184.46 |
| 2023–2024 season | ||||
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| February 22–25, 2024 | 2024 Challenge Cup | 1 72.01 |
2 137.36 |
2 209.37 |
| December 20–24, 2023 | 2023–24 Japan Championships | 11 61.44 |
8 130.57 |
9 192.01 |
| November 24–26, 2023 | 2023 NHK Trophy | 8 58.28 |
5 126.18 |
5 184.46 |
| November 2–5, 2023 | 2023 Japan Eastern Sectional Championships | 1 62.67 |
1 116.73 |
1 179.40 |
| September 21–24, 2023 | 2023 Tokyo Regional Championships | 3 68.05 |
3 110.61 |
3 178.66 |
| 2022–23 season | ||||
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| April 12–16, 2023 | 2023 Triglav Trophy | 2 57.22 |
2 128.70 |
2 185.92 |
| December 21–25, 2022 | 2022–23 Japan Championships | 10 62.48 |
6 129.41 |
7 191.89 |
| November 3–6, 2022 | 2022 Japan Eastern Sectional Championships | 3 54.51 |
1 118.11 |
2 172.62 |
| September 29–October 2, 2022 | 2022 Tokyo Regional Championships | 2 60.60 |
5 104.77 |
4 165.37 |
| 2021–22 season | ||||
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| December 22-26, 2021 | 2021–22 Japan Championships | 30 46.90 |
– | 30 46.90 |
| October 28–31, 2021 | 2021 Japan Eastern Sectional Championships | 1 61.59 |
3 108.48 |
2 170.07 |
| October 7–10, 2021 | 2021 Tokyo Regional Championships | 4 64.14 |
5 104.01 |
5 168.15 |
| 2020–21 season | ||||
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| December 24–27, 2020 | 2020–21 Japan Championships | 14 59.97 |
21 98.27 |
19 158.24 |
| November 6–8, 2020 | 2020 Japan Eastern Sectional Championships | 15 45.92 |
4 106.53 |
8 152.45 |
| October 9–11, 2020 | 2020 Tokyo Regional Championships | 8 48.73 |
8 88.88 |
8 137.61 |
| 2018–19 season | ||||
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| February 5–10, 2019 | 2019 Bavarian Open | 1 68.43 |
2 114.47 |
2 182.90 |
| December 20–24, 2018 | 2018–19 Japan Championships | 8 63.72 |
17 105.56 |
14 169.28 |
| 2015–16 season | ||||
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| December 24–27, 2015 | 2015–16 Japan Championships | 9 58.96 |
18 96.88 |
16 155.84 |
Junior and novice level
edit| 2018–19 season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Event | Level | SP | FS | Total |
| November 23–25, 2018 | 2018–19 Japan Junior Championships | Junior | 4 55.23 |
6 102.11 |
5 157.34 |
| October 25–28, 2018 | 2018 Japan Eastern Sectional Championships | Junior | 3 55.89 |
6 96.61 |
4 152.50 |
| September 27–30, 2018 | 2018 Kanto Regional Championships | Junior | 1 50.65 |
1 101.63 |
1 152.28 |
| September 12–15, 2018 | 2018 JGP Canada | Junior | 8 54.81 |
7 99.43 |
7 154.24 |
| 2017–18 season | |||||
| Date | Event | Level | SP | FS | Total |
| November 23–25, 2017 | 2017–18 Japan Junior Championships | Junior | 17 51.27 |
16 94.93 |
17 146.20 |
| October 26–29, 2017 | 2017 Japan Eastern Sectional Championships | Junior | 4 53.43 |
3 110.77 |
4 164.20 |
| September 28–October 1, 2017 | 2017 Kanto Regional Championships | Junior | 6 41.04 |
2 97.66 |
2 138.70 |
| 2016–17 season | |||||
| Date | Event | Level | SP | FS | Total |
| November 18–20, 2016 | 2016–17 Japan Junior Championships | Junior | 8 53.72 |
9 104.55 |
9 161.35 |
| November 4–6, 2016 | 2016 Japan Eastern Sectional Championships | Junior | 2 47.88 |
1 103.11 |
2 150.99 |
| September 28–October 2, 2016 | 2016 JGP Germany | Junior | 5 56.47 |
3 113.13 |
5 169.60 |
| September 1–4, 2016 | 2016 JGP Czech Republic | Junior | 4 56.60 |
4 99.19 |
4 155.79 |
| 2015–16 season | |||||
| Date | Event | Junior | SP | FS | Total |
| February 17–21, 2016 | 2016 Bavarian Open | Junior | 2 62.84 |
3 85.38 |
2 148.22 |
| November 21–23, 2015 | 2015–16 Japan Junior Championships | Junior | 10 52.96 |
8 109.51 |
7 162.47 |
| October 29–November 1, 2015 | 2015 Japan Eastern Sectional Championships | Junior | 1 62.70 |
3 101.25 |
2 163.95 |
| October 8–11, 2015 | 2015 Kanto Regional Championships | Junior | 1 53.26 |
1 105.49 |
1 158.75 |
| August 26–30, 2015 | 2015 JGP Latvia | Junior | 5 56.67 |
10 89.56 |
7 146.23 |
| August 5–8, 2015 | 2015 Asian Open Trophy | Junior | 2 44.49 |
1 89.99 |
1 134.48 |
| 2014–15 season | |||||
| Date | Event | Level | SP | FS | Total |
| November 22–24, 2014 | 2014–15 Japan Junior Championships | Junior | 3 60.37 |
6 103.31 |
5 163.68 |
| October 24–26, 2014 | 2014–15 Japan Novice Championships | Novice | – | 1 106.86 |
1 106.86 |
| September 25–28, 2014 | 2014 Kanto Regional Championships | Novice | – | 1 79.71 |
1 79.71 |
| August 7–10, 2014 | 2014 Asian Open Trophy | Novice | 1 47.52 |
1 95.11 |
1 142.63 |
| 2013–14 season | |||||
| Date | Event | Level | SP | FS | Total |
| March 14–16, 2014 | 2014 Coupe du Printemps | Novice | 1 40.11 |
2 68.61 |
1 108.72 |
| November 22–24, 2013 | 2013–14 Japan Junior Championships | Junior | 5 50.03 |
18 84.13 |
15 134.16 |
| October 25–27, 2013 | 2013–14 Japan Novice Championships | Novice | – | 2 92.17 |
2 92.17 |
| October 11–14, 2013 | 2013–14 Japan Novice Championships | Novice | – | 1 77.79 |
1 77.79 |
References
edit- ^ "Biography". International Skating Union. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
- ^ a b c d "青木 祐奈 / AOKI Yuna" (in Japanese). Japan Skating Federation. Archived from the original on 10 February 2019.
- ^ a b "Yuna AOKI: 2015/2016". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 28, 2016.
- ^ a b "めざすのは感動を届ける演技 フィギュアスケーター 青木祐奈". Nihon University. Nihon University. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
- ^ a b c d 孝臣, 松原. "青木祐奈「成長することが恩返しに」怪我、移籍、自身での振り付け…辛い時期を乗り越え躍動するまでの軌跡と原動力｜フィギュスケーター・青木祐奈インタビュー（前編）". Jpress. JPress. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
- ^ a b "青木祐奈「人を感動させるスケーターに」女子フィギュアのホープが見せた素顔" [Yuna Aoki article] (in Japanese). Yahoo Sports. July 17, 2015. Archived from the original on November 11, 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Competition Results: Yuna AOKI". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on February 10, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "JPN-Yuna AOKI". SkatingScores.
- ^ "青木祐奈「人を感動させるスケーターに」 女子フィギュアのホープが見せた素顔". Sports Yahoo. Sports Yahoo. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
- ^ "【青木祐奈〈中〉】「なんで泣いてるんだろう」失意の最下位、心が揺れ動いた10代後半". Nikkan Sports. Nikkan Sports. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f "青木 祐奈 Yuna AOKI". Fuji TV. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
- ^ 本航, 松. "【フィギュア】青木祐奈３位発進、ともに練習の渡辺倫果から刺激「緊張を自分の実力を出す力に」". Nikkan Sports. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
- ^ Slater, Paula (November 25, 2023). "Ava Marie Ziegler takes surprising win at NHK Trophy". Golden Skate. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
- ^ Gallagher, Jack (November 26, 2023). "Yuma Kagiyama Holds Off Shoma Uno to Win the NHK Trophy". Japan Forward. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
- ^ Slater, Paula (December 25, 2023). "Kaori Sakamoto flies to fourth national title". Golden Skate. Retrieved December 26, 2023.
- ^ https://www.isuresults.com/results/season2425/gpjpn2024/SEG003.htm
- ^ https://www.isuresults.com/results/season2425/gpjpn2024/CAT002RS.htm
- ^ "Yuna Aoki JPN 125.29/195.07". Instagram. Golden Skate. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
- ^ "Yuna Aoki: 2024/25 SP". Instagram. Instagram. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
- ^ "Yuna Aoki: 2024/25 FP". Instagram. Instagram. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
- ^ "Yuna AOKI: 2023/2024". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on November 26, 2023.
- ^ "Yuna AOKI: 2018/2019". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on February 10, 2019.
- ^ "青木 祐奈 ｜ スケート∞リンク ～フジスケ～". フジテレビ (in Japanese). Retrieved 2020-06-10.
- ^ "Yuna AOKI: 2016/2017". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 21, 2017.
- ^ "Yuna Aoki". Jsports.co.jp. Archived from the original on July 22, 2015.
External links
edit- Yuna Aoki at the International Skating Union
- AOKI Yuna at the Japan Skating Federation
- Yuna Aoki at SkatingScores.com
- Yuna Aoki on Instagram