Miura Kao produced a polished performance with a season’s best score to top the short program at the ISU Four Continents Championships in Beijing on Saturday (24 January).
The 20-year-old led a Japanese 1-2-3 on the podium, raising his chances of reclaiming his Four Continents crown from 2023.
Miura would take some confidence from his performance just two weeks from securing a spot for his Winter Olympics debut in Milano Cortina 2026.
The former world junior champion was in fine fettle, starting his program with a stunning quadruple Salchow-triple toe loop jump combination. His opening jump would set the tone for a well-executed routine, earning a top score of 98.59 points.
Miura edged compatriot Tomono Kazuki (97.19) into second place with Yamamoto Sota (94.68) rounding out the Japanese podium.
Defending champion and world silver medallist Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan finished in fourth place after his hand brushed the ice after landing a triple axel. Shaidorov will be looking to bounce back in Sunday’s free skating program after scoring 90.55 in the short program.
As National Olympic Committees have the exclusive authority for the representation of their respective countries at the Olympic Games, athletes’ participation at the Milano Cortina Games depends on their NOC selecting them to represent their delegation at Milano Cortina 2026.