Rio Nakata

[lileychristie]

Rio Nakata

Rio Nakata was born September 8, 2008, in Cardiff, Great Britain, and represents Japan. He currently resides in Chiba, Japan, and is coached by Makoto Nakata and Kensuke Nakaniwa.

ISU Bio

http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00113828.htm

Instagram
rionakata0908

ISU Personal Bests

http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs_pb_00113828.htm

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Personal Best Total Score	229.31	02.03.2024	ISU World Junior Championships 2024
Personal Best Score Short Program	77.60	29.02.2024	ISU World Junior Championships 2024
Personal Best Score Free Skating	160.06	09.12.2023	ISU Grand Prix Final 2023/24

Programs and Videos​

Season 2024-25
SP: Aroul/Uccen
FS:

Season 2023-24
SP: "God Particle" and "160 Bpm" by Hans Zimmer
FS: "Blunt lnstrument" by David Arnold, "Writing's on the Wall" by Sam Smith and "James Bond Theme (Bond vs Oakenfold)" by David Arnold

Season 2022-23
SP: "Believer" by Imagine Dragons
FS: "Blunt lnstrument" by David Arnold, "Writing's on the Wall" by Sam Smith and "James Bond Theme (Bond vs Oakenfold)" by David Arnold

Competitive History​

Competition	Rank
2023/2024
2024 Junior World Championships	2
2023 Japanese Nationals	19
2023-24 Junior Grand Prix Final	1
2023 Japanese Junior Nationals	2
2023 JGP Bangkok	1
2023 JGP Istanbul	2
2022/2023
2022 JGP Riga Cup	2
2022 JGP Baltic Cup	4

 

[lileychristie]

Aaand massive congratulations Rio for winning JGP Bangkok, the first JGP of 23/24 season!

 

[Nafetaks]

An Interview with him after his success from last weekend:

 

[gsk8]

 

[lileychristie]

Happy birthday Rio and congratulations for grabbing the silver in JGP Istanbul!

With a gold and a silver, I think it's almost certain that he's going to the GP Final. Very exciting for him as he was the first substitute last year.

 

[lileychristie]

Rio has a public Instagram now!

 

[gsk8]

 

[Figskater23]

So technically Rio could skate at the senior level next season right? He is 15 now and by this time next year he’ll be 16.

 

[lileychristie]

So technically Rio could skate at the senior level next season right? He is 15 now and by this time next year he’ll be 16.

No, I'm pretty sure next season the senior minimum age will be 17. That will be the 2nd and last age increases as per that landmark ISU conference.

So Rio will not be senior eligible until 26/27 season. I actually don't mind him staying in juniors for 1 more season, he still has a lot of things to learn and grow. Moving to seniors prematurely will only disadvantage him, especially with the depth of the male Japanese seniors field.

 

[Figskater23]

No, I'm pretty sure next season the senior minimum age will be 17. That will be the 2nd and last age increases as per that landmark ISU conference.

So Rio will not be senior eligible until 25/26 season. I actually don't mind him staying in juniors for 1 more season, he still has a lot of things to learn and grow. Moving to seniors prematurely will only disadvantage him, especially with the depth of the male Japanese seniors field.

Does that also mean he won’t be of age to go to the 2026 Olympics?

 

[lileychristie]

Does that also mean he won’t be of age to go to the 2026 Olympics?

Yes, unfortunately he will just miss the cut-off for the 2026 Olympics, like Mao Shimada.
He will turn 17 in September 2025 while the cut-off is July 1.

But even if he was going to be eligible for 2026 Olympics, it will be very tough getting to the team with Shoma, Yuma, Kao, Kazuki, Sota, Koshiro etc around....

Note that I was slightly wrong in my previous post, Rio will be eligible for seniors starting season 26/27, not 25/26. I have corrected my post for clarity

 

[Figskater23]

I heard Rio has siblings. Do they skate too? Or is he the only one? Has he ever mentioned being a big brother?

 

[Figskater23]

Well the short program for the junior men will be later. Go Rio!

 

[Figskater23]

He did it! He did it! Rio got first!

 

[Figskater23]

If James Bond had a teenage son, the character would definitely be played by Rio. He gives strong spy vibes from his free skate.

 

[yuumagical]

If James Bond had a teenage son, the character would definitely be played by Rio. He gives strong spy vibes from his free skate.

It might be a fun way to shake up the James Bond series by giving him a teenage son, lol

Anyway, Rio will be participating in Prince Ice World next January! I hope he has a fun time at the show!

 

[gsk8]

 

[gsk8]

 

[Figskater23]

Well with the first week of 2024 almost done (or maybe is depending on the different time zones), it’s going to be an interesting end to the 2023-2024 season with the youth Olympics coming up. When is it? How many for Team Japan can enter? Nakata is first choice for the men? Is there Worlds for the junior skaters?

 

[lileychristie]

Well with the first week of 2024 almost done (or maybe is depending on the different time zones), it’s going to be an interesting end to the 2023-2024 season with the youth Olympics coming up. When is it? How many for Team Japan can enter? Nakata is first choice for the men? Is there Worlds for the junior skaters?

The Winter Youth Olympics is on 19 Jan - 1 Feb 2024! And Japan have 2 entries each for both men and women.
Nakata and Haru Kakiuchi have been chosen based on their Junior Nationals results.

And yes, there is Worlds for Juniors The junior men sent from Japan are the same as YOG plus Shunsuke Nakamura (who is too old to go to Youth Olympics).

So Rio is going to both Youth Olympics and Junior Worlds!