A spectacular Yuna Aoki of Japan soared to gold, leading her teammates to a podium sweep at the ISU Figure Skating Four Continents Championships 2026 Beijing (CHN) Friday. The Japanese women have now swept the podium at the ISU Four Continents Championships four times: 2003, 2013, 2018 and 2026. 

Yuna Aoki (JPN) golden in Four Continents debut

One year ago, Yuna Aoki was not even sure whether she should continue to compete. Today, she skated to gold in her ISU Championship debut. Aoki overtook ISU Grand Prix Final silver medalist Ami Nakai, who claimed second place here too, while Mone Chiba took bronze.

Yuna Aoki (JPN), the 2026 ISU Four Continents champion, in action in Beijing, China © ISU

Ranked second in Thursday’s Short Program, Aoki skated next to last and was simply stunning in her playful performance to music from “La La Land”. She flew over the ice, dancing, spinning and jumping, hitting her trademark triple Lutz-triple loop combination as well as four more perfect triple jumps. The 24-year-old blasted her personal best by almost 20 points with 145.98 points and racked up 217.39 points, another personal best. When Nakai’s score came up and she knew she had won, she broke down in tears of happiness and disbelief. 

“I never imagined for even a second that I would win the championship myself, so I’m completely shocked now,” Aoki said. “This is the first time for me to come to the Four Continents, and winning is a dream come true.

“I feel like the results that I had were what I’ve been building on throughout my career. It wasn’t necessarily a surprise, rather I felt like my effort has finally paid off. Even though I wasn’t expecting this exact result, I felt like my practice has finally paid off.”

Japan's Yuna Aoki takes the acclaim after her stunning performance in the women's Free Skating at the ISU Four Continents Championships in Beijing, China © ISU

Short Program leader Nakai fell on her opening triple Axel. And while she did rally, hitting six clean triples in her routine to “What a Wonderful World”, it was not enough to retain first place. It was simply Yuna Aoki’s night. Nakai scored 141.95 and was second in the Free Skating and overall, on 215.78 points. 

“I was disappointed that I fell on the Axel but I managed to finish my program pretty well,” the 17-year-old newcomer said. “Throughout the season I kept the momentum going and I was able to perform in this competition. That’s something I was excited about and I’m very excited that I was able to get a medal at my first Four Continents.” 

Ami Nakai (JPN), the silver medalist in in Beijing, China © ISU

Chiba was determined to do better than in the Short Program. Her lovely “Romeo and Juliet” program was highlighted by a triple flip-triple toe combination and exquisite spins. However, the 2024 ISU Four Continents champion lost precious points on under-rotated jumps. The 2025 ISU world bronze medalist scored 134.16 points and remained in third place with 202.23 points. 

“I regret that I may have lacked momentum towards the end,” Chiba said. “I’m glad I was able to stay focused until the end and carry it through to the performance. It was a really tough competition, but there were some good moments, so I think it was OK. 

“In 2024, I won my first Four Continents Championships in Shanghai; in 2025, I stood on the World Championships podium for the first time; and next month, I will be participating in the Olympics for the first time. I’m giving my all to improve my condition for the Olympics and preparing diligently.”

Mone Chiba (JPN) makes it a podium sweep for Japan after the women's Free Skating in Beijing, China © ISU

The 2025 ISU Four Continents silver medalist Bradie Tennell (USA) moved up from seventh to fourth with an elegant performance to “The Mission” (199.37 points). The 2023 ISU Four Continents champion Haein Lee (KOR) came fifth (192.66 points), while four-time ISU world junior silver medalist Jia Shin (KOR) pulled up from 14th place to sixth in her ISU Four Continents debut (185.06 points). 

Gabrielle Daleman (CAN), the 2017 ISU world bronze medalist, who had not competed internationally since 2022, struggled with some jumps and dropped from fourth to seventh. 

What and when 

The schedule of the ISU Figure Skating Four Continents Championships 2026 is as follows:

Thursday, January 22: Women’s Short Program, Rhythm Dance, Pairs Short Program
 Friday, January 23: Free Dance & Women’s Free Skating 
 Saturday, January 24: Men’s Short Program & Pairs Free Skating
 Sunday, January 25: Men’s Free Skating & Exhibition Gala

For more information, full entry lists and results, visit the ISU event page of the ISU Figure Skating Four Continents Championships 2026. Find comments of the skaters and the press conference highlights on the ISU event website in the “For Media” section. For more information also see the Facts & Figures.

Follow the discussion on social media using #4ContsFigure and #FigureSkating. 

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