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Koshiro Shimada

Koshiro Shimada (島田高志郎, Shimada Kōshirō, born September 11, 2001) is a Japanese figure skater. He is the 2022 Japanese national silver medalist, a three-time ISU Challenger Series medalist, and the 2019 Bavarian Open champion. On the junior level, he is the 2018–19 Junior Grand Prix Final bronze medalist, a three-time ISU Junior Grand Prix medalist, and a two-time Japan Junior national medalist.

Personal life

Koshiro Shimada was born in Ehime Prefecture, Japan.

He is fluent in English, which he learned to speak during his time training in Champéry, Switzerland.

Career

Shimada began learning to skate as a six-year-old. He moved to Okayama with his mother to advance his training.

Shimada's junior international debut came in the 2015–16 season. Competing on the ISU Junior Grand Prix (JGP) circuit, he placed 7th in Bratislava, Slovakia, and 5th in Zagreb, Croatia. Ranked fourth at the Japan Junior Championships, he was assigned to the 2016 Winter Youth Olympics in Hamar, Norway, where he finished 6th.

During the 2016–17 JGP series, Shimada won the bronze medal in Saint Gervais-les-Bains, France, and placed fourth in Tallinn, Estonia. He took the silver medal at the Japan Junior Championships in November 2016 and placed 7th as a senior at the Japan Championships. At the 2017 World Junior Championships in Taipei, he placed 12th in the short program, 13th in the free skate, and 14th overall.

In 2017, Shimada started training with Stéphane Lambiel in Champéry, Switzerland.

2019–2020 season, Shimada moved to the senior level.

2022–2023 season

Starting the season at the 2022 CS Lombardia Trophy, Shimada won the silver medal. He was given two Grand Prix assignments, coming ninth at the 2022 Skate America and fourth at the 2022 MK John Wilson Trophy.

Shimada unexpectedly finished in second place at the 2022–23 Japan Championships, despite a "shaky" landing on his attempted quad Salchow. He was only sixth in the free skate, struggling with a number of jumps, but he remained second overall, less than two points ahead of bronze medalist Kazuki Tomono. Despite being the national silver medalist, the Japan Skating Federation's selection criteria for the 2023 World Championships led to his not being named to one of Japan's three berths, which drew protest from Shimada's friend and training partner, Japanese national champion Shoma Uno. Shimada was instead assigned to compete at the 2023 Four Continents Championships, where he came eleventh.

During the off-season, Shimada was cast to play Sanji for the summer show, One Piece on Ice.

2023–2024 season

Shimada began the season at the 2023 CS Nebelhorn Trophy, winning the bronze medal. He was invited to participate in the Japan Open as part of the host team, finishing third in the men's event, while Team Japan won gold.

The week before competing at the 2023 Grand Prix de France, Shimada twisted his ankle in practice. He ultimately placed tenth at the event, and said he hoped his ankle would be healed in time for his second Grand Prix event. He went on to finish sixth at the 2023 Grand Prix of Espoo.