Cautious Approach Dominates Figure Skater’s Free Skate Performance
At the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan, figure skater Cha Jun-hwan of South Korea delivered a solid performance during the men’s short program. With a score of 92.72 points, he ranked sixth, trailing by nearly ten points from a bronze medal position.
Cautious Approach Dominates Cha Jun-hwan’s Free Skate Performance
Scheduled to compete in the free skate later this week, Cha’s cautious strategy reflects his experience and adaptability. Adam Siao Him Fa from France currently holds third place with 102.55 points, while Ilia Malinin from the United States leads with 108.16 points, and Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama is second with 103.07 points.
Recent Performance History
Cha Jun-hwan finished fifth at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games, marking the highest placement for a South Korean male figure skater in Olympic history. As he prepares for the upcoming free skate, he acknowledges the increased technical demands in men’s figure skating.
Quadruple Jumps and Technical Advances
- Malinin is known as the “Quad God” for his exceptional quadruple jump execution.
- Quad jumps are now considered standard in free skate programs, significantly affecting scoring.
- Cha has scaled back his quad attempts from three to two following ankle issues.
After a training session at the Milano Ice Skating Arena, Cha emphasized the importance of a clean performance over increasing technical difficulty. “I’ve been working hard with the program the way it is. It’s more important to try to put on a clean program,” he stated.
Previous Comeback and Future Aspirations
Cha’s recent performances demonstrate his capability for a strong comeback. At the Asian Winter Games in February 2025, he entered the free skate trailing by 9.72 points. Yet, with a clean routine, including two quadruple jumps, he scored 187.60 points, winning gold against Kagiyama, who scored 168.95 points amidst errors.
Frustration accompanied the announcements of his short program scores. Cha expressed disappointment over what he perceived as unfair evaluations regarding his triple axel and step sequence levels. He reflected on the experience: “I always want to enjoy the process because I think the result will then follow. Although I didn’t get the result I wanted that time, I still did what I wanted to do on the ice.”
As the free skate approaches, Cha Jun-hwan remains focused on executing his strategy and delivering a polished performance, showcasing the blend of caution and skill that defines his approach to the sport.
