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Mao Shimada

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Mao Shimada
Shimada at the 2022–23 Junior Grand Prix Final
Native name島田 麻央
Born (2008-10-30) October 30, 2008 (age 16)
Koganei, Tokyo, Japan
HometownUji, Kyoto
Height1.51 m (4 ft 11 in)
Figure skating career
Country Japan
DisciplineWomen's singles
CoachMie Hamada, Satsuki Muramoto, Hiroaki Sato, Noriyuki Kanzaki
Skating clubKinoshita Academy
Began skating2014
Medal record
Japan Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2022–23 Osaka Singles
Bronze medal – third place 2023–24 Nagano Singles
"" Winter Youth Olympics ""
Gold medal – first place 2024 Gangwon Singles
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 2023 Calgary Singles
Gold medal – first place 2024 Taipei Singles
Junior Grand Prix Final
Gold medal – first place 2022–23 Turin Singles
Gold medal – first place 2023–24 Beijing Singles

Mao Shimada (島田 麻央, Shimada Mao, born October 30, 2008) is a Japanese figure skater. She is the 2024 Youth Olympic champion, a two-time World Junior champion (2023, 2024), a two-time ISU Junior Grand Prix Final champion (2022–23, 2023–24), a six-time ISU Junior Grand Prix gold medalist, a two-time Japanese national bronze medalist, and a three-time Japanese junior national champion (2021–2023). She is the twenty-first woman in history to have successfully landed a triple Axel jump, fifteenth woman to successfully land a quadruple jump and second Japanese women to land a quadruple toeloop in competition.

Personal life

[edit]

Shimada was born on 30 October 2008 in Koganei, Tokyo, Japan.[1] Her mother, Ayumi, was a fan of Japanese figure skater Mao Asada and named Shimada after her. She also has a younger sister, Aoi, who is three years younger than her.[2][3][4]

At the age of twelve, Shimada and her family moved from Tokyo to Kyoto in 2020 so that she could train at the Kinoshita Skating Academy.[3]

Shimada enjoys dancing, bowling, and cooking.[1]

As of March 2021, she graduated from Okubo Elementary School and attends Hirono Junior High School, graduated in 2024.[5]

Career

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Early years

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Shimada began skating at age five after watching Mao Asada at the 2014 Winter Olympics. She finished in fifth place at the 2018 Japan Novice B National Championships.[3]

2019–20 season

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Shimada won the 2019 Japan Novice B National Championships scoring 88.50.

2020–21 season

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She won the 2020 Japan Novice A National Championships, attempting a triple Axel in the free program. She fell, and the jump was marked as downgraded.

Shimada was invited to compete at the junior event. She placed third behind teammate Hana Yoshida and Rino Matsuike but was too young to compete at the senior division.

She was invited to skate in the gala at the 2020 NHK Trophy as the reigning Japanese national novice champion.

In April 2020, Shimada switched coaches from Koji Okajima, who had been coaching her since January 2019, to Mie Hamada.[3]

2021–22 season

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Shimada started her season competing at the 2021 Kinki Regional Championships. She opened her program, landing a clean quad toe loop. She was selected for the 2021 Japan Novice National Championships and won the competition. She was then invited to compete in the junior division.

At 2021–22 Japan Junior National Championships, she skated a clean short program but still placed fourth. However, Shimada managed to land the quad toe once again and won the competition over Rion Sumiyoshi and Mone Chiba. She was still too young to compete in the senior event.

Shimada was sent to 2022 Egna Trophy to compete in the advanced novice category. She attempted a triple Axel during the free program, but the jump was landed on a quarter. Winning the gold medal, she outscored Canadian silver medalist Hetty Shi by 32.63 points.

2022–23 season: Junior World and JGP Final gold

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In early September 2022, Shimada made her ISU Junior Grand Prix debut at the event in Ostrava, Czech Republic. She landed all her jumps cleanly in her short program and placed first with 71.49 points.[6] During the free skate, Shimada successfully landed a triple Axel and became the twenty-first woman to land it in international competition. She then attempted a quadruple toe loop but underrotated the jump, resulting in a fall; the program was otherwise clean.[7] Shimada won the event with a lead of 23.28 points over South Korea's Kwon Min-sol.[8] At her second Junior Grand Prix assignment in Gdańsk, Poland, Shimada scored 68.81 in the short program after landing her jump combination on a quarter. She landed a clean triple Axel and a quadruple toe loop on a quarter in the free skate, winning the event and earning new season bests for the free skate and total score. These results qualified her for 2022–23 Junior Grand Prix Final.[9][10]

Following her Junior Grand Prix victories, Shimada successfully defended her title at the 2022–23 Japan Junior Championships. After winning the short program, she fell on her opening triple Axel attempt in the free skate but went on to land her quad and her remaining triple jumps to finish first there as well.[11] Two weeks later at the Final in Turin, Shimada landed all her jumps successfully in the short program, albeit with her triple Lutz deemed landed on a quarter. With a score of 69.66 points, she finished first in the segment, 0.55 points of reigning World Junior silver medalist Shin Ji-a of South Korea.[12] In the free skate, she stepped out of her triple Axel and underrotated her quad attempt, but was first in that segment as well, winning the gold medal with an overall margin of 5.22 points over Shin. Shimada claimed to "aim for the performance that satisfies myself and not the placement," adding that while it was "a big competition and a big victory and it gave me the confidence" that "my goal was to land the first two jump, both the triple Axel and the quad toe, so I regret a little that that didn’t happen this time."[13] She was the first Japanese and first non-Russian women's champion at the event since Kanako Murakami in 2009.[14][15]

Attending her first senior Japan Championships, Shimada was fourth in the short program with a 70.28 score, her first over the 70-point mark domestically. She said she was "glad I was able to put it together in a very tense situation."[16] In the free skate, Shimada fell twice on her opening triple Axel and quad attempts, before landing seven clean triple jumps. She was fifth in the segment, but rose to third overall in a somewhat chaotic field, winning the bronze medal. Too young for international senior assignments, she was assigned to finishing her season at the 2023 World Junior Championships.[17]

At the World Junior Championships in Calgary, Shimada finished first in the short program with a new personal best, 0.59 points ahead of Shin in second place. She described practices in the leadup as difficult, as thus was pleased with her performance on the day.[18] Two days later in the free skate, Shimada landed both her triple axel and quadruple toe loop, although the latter jump was completed on the quarter. She then skated the rest of her program cleanly, receiving another personal best of 152.76, winning the event with the fifth highest score ever recorded by a junior woman. Her margin of victory of 22.64 over silver medalist Shin Ji-a was the same exact margin as her namesake Mao Asada over Yuna Kim of South Korea at the 2005 World Junior Championships.[19][20] Shimada became the first Japanese woman to win Junior Worlds since Marin Honda in 2016, and alongside country mate and bronze medalist Ami Nakai, secured three spots for Japanese women the following year.[21]

As the 2022 Japanese national junior champion, she was invited to skate in the gala at the 2023 World Championships.

2023–24 season: Youth Olympic champion & 2-time Junior World and JGP Final champion

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With previous choreographer Lori Nichol again handling Shimada's free program for the new season, she collaborated with Kaitlyn Weaver on a short program to Lady Gaga's "Americano". The program was inspired by the Mexican folktale "La Carambada," with Shimada portraying a female thief that steals from the rich and gives to the poor. Additionally, Canadian violinist, Judy Kang, who has previously worked and performed with Lady Gaga, helped arrange the music specifically for Shimada.[22][23] Prior to the season starting, Shimada said that in addition to defending her titles from the previous year, her goals included winning the 2024 Winter Youth Olympics.[24]

Shimada began the Junior Grand Prix on home soil, with Osaka playing host to the 2023 JGP Japan. Shimada, the heavy favourite, set a new personal best score in the short program. She finished first in the free skate as well, despite falling on her downgraded quad attempt.[25] She went on to win another gold medal at the 2023 JGP Armenia, posting a 33-point margin over American silver medalist Elyce Lin-Gracey, her only error again being a fall on her quad toe loop attempt. Shimada said she was "happy" with the result, "but a little bit sad" at the issues landing the quad.[26]

Shimada entered the 2023–24 Japan Junior Championships as the heavy favourite for a record-equaling third consecutive gold medal.[27] She unexpectedly placed fourth in the short program after failing to complete her jump combination, which she attributed to nervousness because of her desire to qualify to attend the Youth Olympics and the World Junior Championships.[28] She rallied in the free skate, where she fell on her quad attempt but landed eight clean triple jumps, finishing twelve points ahead silver medalist Ikura Kushida. She joined Shizuka Arakawa and Miki Ando as the only women to win three consecutive national junior titles, saying "I wonder if I got closer to the two of them."[29]

She was invited to skate in the gala at the 2023 NHK Trophy as the three-time Japanese national junior champion.[30]

At the 2023–24 Junior Grand Prix Final, Shimada came second in the short program, behind primary rival Shin Ji-a, after an error on the landing of her triple Lutz. She said she was "very upset" at the mistake, attributing it to nervousness from having previously made a mistake at the junior national championship. In the free skate, she successfully landed her quadruple toe loop for the first time, becoming only the second Japanese woman to do so, and also landed her triple Axel and all but one of her other planned jumps. She won the segment and rose to take the gold medal.[31] She became the second woman to win the Junior Grand Prix Final twice, after Ando, and the first to do so consecutively.[32] At the end of the month, Shimada attended the senior national championships. She successfully landed a triple Axel in the short program, but fell on her triple Lutz and thereby failed to execute a jump combination, coming seventh in the segment.[33] In the free skate she landed seven triple jumps, fell on her quad attempt and singled a planned triple loop, finishing third in the segment and winning her second national bronze medal.[34]

Competing in the women's event at the Youth Olympics in Gangwon, the site of the 2018 Winter Olympics, Shimada won the short program by almost four points over second-place Yo Takagi, and was nearly five points ahead of Shin, who was considered her primary challenger.[35] In the free skate she fell on her quad toe loop and had several other jump rotation issues, but won that segment over Shin as well by 0.59 points, and captured the gold medal by 5.16 points.[36] She was the first Japanese woman to win the Youth Olympic title, declaring this "was my goal all long and while I didn’t openly say it here, I was out to win a gold medal. It makes me so happy that I did it, and I'm glad to see my friend Yo on the podium with me."[37]

Shimada concluded the season at the 2024 World Junior Championships in Taipei, in another presumed contest with Shin for the gold medal. She finished second in the short program, 0.88 points back of Shin, after her triple flip received an incorrect edge call. She went on to win the free skate, landing her quadruple jump and six clean triple jumps, while stepping out of her triple Axel. Finishing first overall, Shimada said she was "very happy" to have won consecutive World Junior titles.[38]

2024–25 season

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After selecting the song "Defying Gravity" from the musical, Wicked, to use for her short program music, Shimada went to watch the live musical showing in Japan over the summer to take inspiration for her performance. She also got to meet the Japanese actress that played Elphaba on stage.[39][40]

For her 2024–25 free program music, Shimada requested to her choreographer, Lori Nichol, that she skate to Japanese music. Upon discovering the song, "Mado Kara Mieru," Nichol suggested that Shimada use this music to represent the four seasons of Japan, starting and ending with spring. Shimada liked this concept and decided to use it for her free program.[39][41] Christopher Tin, the composer of Shimada's free program music, would later praise her interpretation of his music.[42]

On the Junior Grand Prix, Shimada claimed victory at the 2024 JGP Latvia, winning by a wide margin despite errors on her quad toe loop and triple Axel.[43] She went on to take a second gold medal at 2024 JGP Poland with a new personal best score of 224.68, after skating a clean short program and a nearly clean free skate, with the only mistake being landing her quadruple toeloop on the quarter. [44] With these results, Shimada qualified for the for a third time.[45][46]

Programs

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  • Program details mentioned at first occurrence
Competition and exhibition programs by season 
Season Short program Free skate program Exhibition program
2020–21
[2]
—
2021–22
[4]
—
2022–23
 [47][48] 		The Lion King
  1. "Passepied"
  2. Wild Swans
2023–24
 [22]
"Benedictus"
"Champion (Teddy Rose Remix)"
2024–25
 [49]
"Mado Kara Mieru"
 —

Competitive highlights

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Competition placements at senior level [50]
Season 2022–23 2023-24 2024-25
Japan Championships 3rd 3rd
Competition placements at junior level [50]
Season 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023-24 2024-25
Winter Youth Olympics 1st
World Junior Championships 1st 1st
Junior Grand Prix Final 1st 1st TBD
Japan Championships 3rd 1st 1st
JGP Armenia 1st
JGP Czech Republic 1st
JGP Japan 1st
JGP Latvia 1st
JGP Poland 1st 1st
Triglav Trophy 1st

Detailed results

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ISU personal best scores in the +5/-5 GOE System [51]
Segment Type Score Event
Total TSS 224.68 2024 JGP Poland
Short program TSS 73.78 2023 JGP Japan
TES 41.84 2022 JGP Czech Republic
PCS 32.16 2023 JGP Japan
Free skating TSS 152.76 2023 World Junior Championships
TES 86.19 2024 JGP Poland
PCS 67.98 2023 World Junior Championships

Senior level

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Results in the 2022–23 season [50]
Date Event SP FS Total
P Score P Score P Score
Dec 21–25, 2022 Japan 2022–23 Japan Championships 4 70.28 5 132.51 3 202.79
Results in the 2023–24 season [50]
Date Event SP FS Total
P Score P Score P Score
Dec 20–24, 2023 Japan 2023–24 Japan Championships 7 65.23 3 136.95 3 202.18

Junior level

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Results in the 2020–21 season [50]
Date Event SP FS Total
P Score P Score P Score
Nov 21–23, 2020 Japan 2021 Japan Championships (Junior) 6 57.89 3 115.55 3 173.44
Results in the 2021–22 season [50]
Date Event SP FS Total
P Score P Score P Score
Nov 19–21, 2021 Japan 2022 Japan Championships (Junior) 4 61.76 1 126.75 1 188.51
Apr 7–10, 2022 Italy 2022 Egna Spring Trophy 1 52.93 1 107.75 1 160.68
Results in the 2022–23 season [50]
Date Event SP FS Total
P Score P Score P Score
Aug 31 – Sep 3, 2022 Czech Republic 2022 JGP Czech Republic 1 71.49 1 141.16 1 212.65
Sep 28 – Oct 1, 2022 Poland 2022 JGP Poland I 2 68.81 1 148.87 1 217.68
Nov 25–27, 2022 Japan 2023 Japan Championships (Junior) 1 66.52 1 132.67 1 199.19
Dec 8–11, 2022 Italy 2023 Junior Grand Prix Final 1 69.66 1 135.88 1 205.54
Feb 27 – Mar 5, 2023 Canada 2023 World Junior Championships 1 71.78 1 152.76 1 224.54
Results in the 2023–24 season [50]
Date Event SP FS Total
P Score P Score P Score
Sep 13-16, 2023 Japan 2023 JGP Japan 1 73.78 1 140.08 1 213.86
Oct 3-7, 2023 Armenia 2023 JGP Armenia 1 73.14 1 136.67 1 209.81
Nov 17-19, 2023 Japan 2023-24 Japan Championships (Junior) 4 63.34 1 137.99 1 201.33
Dec 7–10, 2023 China 2023 Junior Grand Prix Final 2 68.27 1 138.06 1 206.33
Jan 28–30, 2024 South Korea 2024 Winter Youth Olympics 1 71.05 1 125.94 1 196.99
Feb 26–Mar 3, 2024 Taiwan 2024 World Junior Championships 2 72.60 1 145.76 1 218.36
Results in the 2024–25 season 
Date Event SP FS Total
P Score P Score P Score
Aug 28–31, 2024 Latvia 2024 JGP Latvia 1 71.67 1 133.19 1 204.86
Sep 25–28, 2024 Poland 2024 JGP Poland 1 73.11 1 151.57 1 224.68

References

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  1. ^ a b "Mao Shimada". Kinoshita Academy.
  2. ^ a b "Mao Shimada Profile". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese).
  3. ^ a b c d "島田麻央が麻央さまと呼ばれている理由は？身長は？父親、母親はどんな人？浅田真央との共通点は？". Nagaikishitaize. Nagaikishitaize. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Mao Shimada Profile". Fuji TV.
  5. ^ "Shimada Mao". Nexus Sports.
  6. ^ "JGP Ostrava 2022 Judges Details Per Skater, Women's Short Program" (PDF). International Skating Union.
  7. ^ "JGP Ostrava 2022 Judges Details Per Skater, Women's Free Skate" (PDF). International Skating Union.
  8. ^ "Newcomers dominate at the ISU Junior Grand Prix in Ostrava (CZE)". International Skating Union. September 5, 2022.
  9. ^ "JGP Gdańsk 2022 Judges Details Per Skater, Women's Short Program" (PDF). International Skating Union.
  10. ^ "Shimada (JPN) scores second Junior Grand Prix victory". International Skating Union. October 3, 2022.
  11. ^ Gallagher, Jack (November 28, 2022). "Mao Shimada Lands Quad Toe Loop, Retains Japan Junior Championships Crown". Japan Forward.
  12. ^ "Shimada (JPN) edges Shin (KOR) in Junior Women's Short Program at JGP Final". International Skating Union. December 8, 2022.
  13. ^ "Mao Shimada (JPN) risks it all to claim Junior Women's Grand Prix Final crown". International Skating Union. December 9, 2022.
  14. ^ McCarvel, Nick (December 9, 2022). "Junior Grand Prix Final - Shimada Mao captures title, becoming first Japanese woman to do so in 13 years". Olympic Channel.
  15. ^ Gallagher, Jack (December 9, 2022). "Mao Shimada Captures Junior Grand Prix Final Title With Strong Showing". Japan Forward.
  16. ^ Gallagher, Jack (December 22, 2022). "Kaori Sakamoto Seizes Lead after Short Program at Japan Championships". Japan Forward.
  17. ^ Gallagher, Jack (December 24, 2022). "Kaori Sakamoto Captures Third National Title at Japan Championships". Japan Forward.
  18. ^ "Lioness Mao Shimada (JPN) begins her gold medal hunt in the Junior World Women's Short Program". International Skating Union. March 2, 2023.
  19. ^ Slater, Paula (March 4, 2023). "Mao Shimada impresses in Calgary; takes Junior World title". Golden Skate. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
  20. ^ @SkatingScores (March 4, 2023). "📈Largest Winning Margin at Olympics or ISU Championships (Worlds, Jr Worlds, Euros, 4CC)" (Tweet). Archived from the original on March 7, 2023 – via Twitter.
  21. ^ Gallagher, Jack (March 4, 2023). "Mao Shimada Sensational on Way to Winning World Junior Title". Japan Forward.
  22. ^ a b "Mao SHIMADA: 2023/2024". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on February 2, 2024.
  23. ^ "Mao Shimada (JPN) – Junior Short Program – Osaka 2023". YouTube. December 29, 2023.
  24. ^ "Game Changer: Mao Shimada ready to shine in the new season". International Skating Union. September 13, 2023. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  25. ^ "Mao Shimada (JPN) storms to first season's gold on home ice in Osaka". International Skating Union. September 19, 2023. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  26. ^ "Shimada (JPN), Martynov (USA) and Tkachenko/Kiliakov (ISR) take last tickets for the Final at ISU Junior Grand Prix Yerevan". International Skating Union. October 9, 2023. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  27. ^ Gallagher, Jack (November 17, 2023). "Mao Shimada Aims for a Three-peat at the Japan Junior Championships". Japan Forward. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  28. ^ Gallagher, Jack (November 19, 2023). "Ikura Kushida Leads at the Japan Junior Championships After the Short Program". Japan Forward. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  29. ^ Gallagher, Jack (November 20, 2023). "Mao Shimada Catches Up to Arakawa and Ando with 3rd Japan Junior Crown". Japan Forward. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  30. ^ Skating ISU (2023-11-25). LIVE | Exhibition Gala | NHK Trophy 2023 | #GPFigure. Retrieved 2024-09-26 – via YouTube.
  31. ^ Slater, Paula (December 8, 2023). "Shimada defends Junior Grand Prix Final title". Golden Skate. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  32. ^ Gallagher, Jack (December 9, 2023). "Mao Shimada Achieves Historic First with Second Straight Victory at the JGP Final". Japan Forward. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  33. ^ Gallagher, Jack (December 23, 2023). "Kaori Sakamoto Takes Big Lead in Short Program at Japan Championships". Japan Forward. Retrieved December 26, 2023.
  34. ^ Gallagher, Jack (December 25, 2023). "Kaori Sakamoto Reigns Again at Japan Championships with Huge Score". Japan Forward. Retrieved December 26, 2023.
  35. ^ Gallagher, Jack (January 28, 2024). "Mao Shimada and Yo Takagi Finish 1-2 in Women's Short Program at Winter Youth Olympics". Japan Forward. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  36. ^ Gallagher, Jack (January 30, 2024). "Mao Shimada Wins Gold and Yo Takagi Gets Bronze at the Winter Youth Olympics". Japan Forward. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  37. ^ Kano, Shintaro (January 30, 2024). "Gangwon 2024: Japan's Shimada Mao strikes women's figure skating gold". Olympic Channel. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  38. ^ Slater, Paula (March 1, 2024). "Mao Shimada defends Junior World title". Golden Skate. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  39. ^ a b ""Excited to come back to the JGP" - Mao SHIMADA (JPN) - Junior Women Winner - Riga 2024". YouTube. International Skating Union. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  40. ^ Shimada, Mao. "念願のウィキッドを観に行く事が出来ました✨". Instagram. Instagram. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  41. ^ "Mao SHIMADA 島田 麻央 (JPN) - Junior Women Free Skating - Gdansk 2024". YouTube. International Skating Union. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  42. ^ Tin, Christopher. "Since my last post, people have been reaching out sharing clips of other skaters competing with my music. And they're amazing! 1) Mao Shimada of Japan has been winning youth championships everywhere to "Mado Kara Mieru" (and today is her 16th birthday!)". X. X. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  43. ^ "Ice princess Shimada (JPN) sparkles and new stars are born at ISU Junior Grand Prix in Riga". International Skating Union. September 2, 2024. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
  44. ^ "Competition Results: Mao SHIMADA". International Skating Union.
  45. ^ "Update: Mao SHIMADA has qualified for the JGP Final with 30 points". Skate Japan News. Skate Japan News. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  46. ^ "ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2024/2025 - Junior Women". International Skating Union. International Skating Union. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  47. ^ "Although it is not possible to participate due to age limit changes, Mao Shimada: "I will do my best to represent Japan at the Olympics in the year I can compete"". Nikkan Sports. July 9, 2022.
  48. ^ "Mao SHIMADA: 2022/2023". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on August 14, 2022.
  49. ^ "Mao SHIMADA: 2024/2025". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on August 25, 2024.
  50. ^ a b c d e f g h "JPN–Mao Shimada". SkatingScores.com.
  51. ^ "Personal Bests Mao Shimada (JPN)". International Skating Union.
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