Yuka Sato
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese
figure skater. She is the 1994 World Champion
, the 1990 World Junior Champion
and the 1993 & 1994 Japanese national champion
. She placed 7th at the 1992 Winter Olympics
and 5th at the 1994 Winter Olympics
.
. Both of her parents are former skaters. Her father, Nobuo Sato
, competed at the 1960 Winter Olympics
and 1964 Winter Olympics
. Her mother, Kumiko Okawa, competed in the 1964 Winter Olympics
and 1968 Winter Olympics
.
In addition to being coached by her parents, Sato also worked with coach Peter Dunfield
.
Sato is a graduate of Hosei University
.
Sato is credited as a stunt performer in the 2007 figure skating comedy motion picture Blades of Glory
.
She is married to fellow figure skater Jason Dungjen
.
to qualify for the 1989 World Figure Skating Championships
, where she placed 10th. She also qualified for the 1989 Japan Figure Skating Championships
, where she won the bronze medal behind Midori Ito
and Junko Yaginuma.
In the 1989-1990 season, Sato again won the Japan Jr. Championships to qualify for the World Junior Championships. Sato won the 1990 World Junior Figure Skating Championships. She won the silver medal at the Japanese Championships that season and qualified for the 1990 World Figure Skating Championships
, where she placed 14th.
In the 1990-1991 season, Sato placed 5th at the 1990 NHK Trophy
and at the 1990 Nations Cup
.
In the 1991-1992 season, Sato won the bronze medal at the 1991 Skate America
. She won her second silver medal at the Japanese Championships to qualify for the 1992 Winter Olympics
and the 1992 World Figure Skating Championships
. She placed 8th at the Olympics and 7th at the World Championships.
In the 1992-1993 season, Sato won the 1992 Skate America
, beating Nancy Kerrigan
and Chen Lu
. She won the silver medal at the 1992 NHK Trophy
and won the Prague Skate. She won her first of two Japanese national titles that season and qualified for the 1993 World Figure Skating Championships
, where she placed 4th.
In the 1993-1994 season, Sato won the bronze medal at the 1993 NHK Trophy
and placed 6th at the pre-Olympic Piruetten competition in Norway. She won her second Japanese national title that season to qualify for the 1994 Winter Olympics
and the 1994 World Figure Skating Championships
. At the Olympics, she popped an intended triple lutz jump
in the short program and placed 7th in that segment of the competition. She completed six triple jumps in the free skate to place 5th overall.
All of the Olympic medalists withdrew from the 1994 World Figure Skating Championships
, which were held in Japan. She placed first after the technical program, with Surya Bonaly
and Tanja Szewczenko
in second and third, respectively. In the free skate, she was beaten by Bonaly 8-1 in the technical mark, but she came over Bonaly in the artistic mark 8-1, and she won the title by a 5-4 vote between the judges.
. She married Jason Dungjen
and began touring with him as a pair skater professionally. As a professional skater, she won the 1995, 2000, 2001 and 2002 World Professional Figure Skating Championships
and placed second at that competition in 1996 and 1998.
Sato works as a sports commentator
for Japanese television. She worked for NHK
during the 2006 Winter Olympics
and commentated on the broadcast of Shizuka Arakawa
's winning performance.
Sato works as a coach and choreographer. Among her choreography clients is Takahiko Kozuka
. She began coaching Jeremy Abbott
in May 2009 and Alissa Czisny
in May 2010.
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
figure skater. She is the 1994 World Champion
World Figure Skating Championships
The World Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which elite figure skaters compete for the title of World Champion...
, the 1990 World Junior Champion
World Junior Figure Skating Championships
The World Junior Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which younger figure skaters compete for the title of World Junior Champion...
and the 1993 & 1994 Japanese national champion
Japan Figure Skating Championships
The Japan or All-Japan Figure Skating Championships are a figure skating national championship held annually to determine the national champions of Japan. Skaters compete in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies singles, pair skating, and ice dancing, although not every discipline has been held...
. She placed 7th at the 1992 Winter Olympics
Figure skating at the 1992 Winter Olympics
Referee:* Benjamin T. WrightAssistant Referee:* Monique GeorgelinJudges: Reinhard Mirmseker Mary Pearson Yang Jiasheng Monique Petis Mieko Fujimori Ingelise Blangsted Igor Prokop Vanessa Riley* Marina Sanaya Maragaret Ann Wier...
and 5th at the 1994 Winter Olympics
Figure skating at the 1994 Winter Olympics
Referee:* Britta LindgrenAssistant Referee:* Gerhardt BubníkJudges: Wendy Utley Jan Olesinski Jarmila Portová Alfred Korytek Yang Jiasheng Margaret Ann Wier Noriko Shirota Audrey Williams Jan Hoffmann Monique Petis -Pairs:...
.
Personal life
Yuka Sato was born in TokyoTokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
. Both of her parents are former skaters. Her father, Nobuo Sato
Nobuo Sato
is a Japanese figure skater and coach. He is a ten-time Japanese national champion. He represented Japan at the 1960 Winter Olympics, where he placed 14th, and at the 1964 Winter Olympics, where he placed 8th. His best finish at the World Championships was 4th in 1965. He is married to Kumiko Okawa...
, competed at the 1960 Winter Olympics
1960 Winter Olympics
The 1960 Winter Olympics, officially known as the VIII Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event held between February 18 and 28, 1960 in Squaw Valley, California, United States. In 1955 at the 50th IOC meeting, the organizing committee made the surprise choice to award Squaw Valley as...
and 1964 Winter Olympics
1964 Winter Olympics
The 1964 Winter Olympics, officially known as the IX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Innsbruck, Austria, from January 29 to February 9, 1964...
. Her mother, Kumiko Okawa, competed in the 1964 Winter Olympics
1964 Winter Olympics
The 1964 Winter Olympics, officially known as the IX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Innsbruck, Austria, from January 29 to February 9, 1964...
and 1968 Winter Olympics
1968 Winter Olympics
The 1968 Winter Olympics, officially known as the X Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1968 in Grenoble, France and opened on 6 February. Thirty-seven countries participated...
.
In addition to being coached by her parents, Sato also worked with coach Peter Dunfield
Peter Dunfield
Peter Dunfield is a Canadian figure skater. He is the 1952 & 1953 Canadian bronze medalist and 1951 Junior national champion. He also competed in the fours discipline. With partner Mary Kenner, Peter Firstbrook, and Vera Smith, he won the silver medal at the 1949 North American Figure Skating...
.
Sato is a graduate of Hosei University
Hosei University
is a private university based in Tokyo, Japan.The university originated in a school of law, Tōkyō Hōgakusha , established in 1880, and the following year renamed Tōkyō Hōgakkō . This was from 1883 headed by Dr. Gustave Emile Boissonade, and was heavily influenced by the French legal tradition...
.
Sato is credited as a stunt performer in the 2007 figure skating comedy motion picture Blades of Glory
Blades of Glory
Blades of Glory is a 2007 American comedy film directed by Josh Gordon and Will Speck, and starring Will Ferrell and Jon Heder. The movie was released on March 29, 2007 by DreamWorks and MTV Films...
.
She is married to fellow figure skater Jason Dungjen
Jason Dungjen
Jason Dungjen is an American retired pair skater who was a two-time U.S. national champion. He is currently a skating coach....
.
Eligible career
In the 1988-1989 season, Yuka Sato won the Japan Junior Figure Skating ChampionshipsJapan Junior Figure Skating Championships
The Japan Junior Figure Skating Championships is a figure skating competition held annually to crown the national champions on the Junior level for Japan. The first Japan Junior Figure Skating Championships was held in 1931. It is the junior level equivalent of the Japan Figure Skating Championships...
to qualify for the 1989 World Figure Skating Championships
1989 World Figure Skating Championships
The World Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which elite figure skaters compete for the title of World Champion. This event is considered the most prestigious of the ISU Championships...
, where she placed 10th. She also qualified for the 1989 Japan Figure Skating Championships
Japan Figure Skating Championships
The Japan or All-Japan Figure Skating Championships are a figure skating national championship held annually to determine the national champions of Japan. Skaters compete in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies singles, pair skating, and ice dancing, although not every discipline has been held...
, where she won the bronze medal behind Midori Ito
Midori Ito
is a former Japanese figure skater. She is the 1989 World Champion and the 1992 Olympic silver medalist. She is the first woman to land a triple/triple jump combination and a triple axel in competition. She is also the first woman to land seven triple jumps in a free program, which she did at the...
and Junko Yaginuma.
In the 1989-1990 season, Sato again won the Japan Jr. Championships to qualify for the World Junior Championships. Sato won the 1990 World Junior Figure Skating Championships. She won the silver medal at the Japanese Championships that season and qualified for the 1990 World Figure Skating Championships
1990 World Figure Skating Championships
The 1990 World Figure Skating Championships were the World Figure Skating Championships of the 1989-1990 season. Elite senior-level figure skaters from ISU Member Nations competed for the title of World Champion...
, where she placed 14th.
In the 1990-1991 season, Sato placed 5th at the 1990 NHK Trophy
1990 NHK Trophy
The NHK Trophy is an international, senior-level figure skating competition. Elite figure skaters compete in the disciplines of ladies' singles, men's singles, pair skating, and ice dancing. The location changes yearly....
and at the 1990 Nations Cup
1990 Nations Cup
The 1990 Nations Cup was the Nations Cup competition of the 1990–1991 figure skating season and a senior-level international invitational competition...
.
In the 1991-1992 season, Sato won the bronze medal at the 1991 Skate America
1991 Skate America
The 1991 Skate America was the Skate America competition of the 1991–1992 figure skating season. The event was organized by the United States Figure Skating Association...
. She won her second silver medal at the Japanese Championships to qualify for the 1992 Winter Olympics
1992 Winter Olympics
The 1992 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XVI Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 8 to 23 February 1992 in Albertville, France. They were the last Winter Olympics to be held the same year as the Summer Olympics, and the first where the Winter Paralympics...
and the 1992 World Figure Skating Championships
1992 World Figure Skating Championships
The 1992 World Figure Skating Championships took place in Oakland, California, USA.-Medalists:- Medal table :-Men:-Ladies:-Pairs:-Ice Dancing:-References:*...
. She placed 8th at the Olympics and 7th at the World Championships.
In the 1992-1993 season, Sato won the 1992 Skate America
1992 Skate America
The 1992 Skate America was the Skate America competition of the 1992–1993 figure skating season. The event was organized by the United States Figure Skating Association...
, beating Nancy Kerrigan
Nancy Kerrigan
Nancy Ann Kerrigan is a two-time American Olympic figure skating medalist and 1993 U.S. champion.-Early life and skating career:...
and Chen Lu
Chen Lu
Chen Lu is a Chinese figure skater. She is the 1994 and 1998 Olympic bronze medalist and the 1995 World Champion. Chen won the first ever Olympic medal in figure skating for China.- Amateur career :...
. She won the silver medal at the 1992 NHK Trophy
1992 NHK Trophy
The NHK Trophy is an international, senior-level figure skating competition. Elite figure skaters compete in the disciplines of ladies' singles, men's singles, pair skating, and ice dancing. The location changes yearly....
and won the Prague Skate. She won her first of two Japanese national titles that season and qualified for the 1993 World Figure Skating Championships
1993 World Figure Skating Championships
The 1993 World Figure Skating Championships were the World Figure Skating Championships of the 1992-1993 season. Elite senior-level figure skaters from ISU Member Nations competed for the title of World Champion...
, where she placed 4th.
In the 1993-1994 season, Sato won the bronze medal at the 1993 NHK Trophy
1993 NHK Trophy
The NHK Trophy is an international, senior-level figure skating competition. Elite figure skaters compete in the disciplines of ladies' singles, men's singles, pair skating, and ice dancing. The location changes yearly....
and placed 6th at the pre-Olympic Piruetten competition in Norway. She won her second Japanese national title that season to qualify for the 1994 Winter Olympics
1994 Winter Olympics
The 1994 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XVII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 12 to 27 February 1994 in and around Lillehammer, Norway. Lillehammer failed to win the bid for the 1992 event. Lillehammer was awarded the games in 1988, after having beat...
and the 1994 World Figure Skating Championships
1994 World Figure Skating Championships
The World Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which elite figure skaters compete for the title of World Champion. This event is considered the most prestigious of the ISU Championships...
. At the Olympics, she popped an intended triple lutz jump
Lutz jump
The Lutz is a figure skating jump, named after Alois Lutz, an Austrian skater who performed it in 1913. It is a toepick-assisted jump with an entrance from a back outside edge and landing on the back outside edge of the opposite foot.- Lutz technique:...
in the short program and placed 7th in that segment of the competition. She completed six triple jumps in the free skate to place 5th overall.
All of the Olympic medalists withdrew from the 1994 World Figure Skating Championships
1994 World Figure Skating Championships
The World Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which elite figure skaters compete for the title of World Champion. This event is considered the most prestigious of the ISU Championships...
, which were held in Japan. She placed first after the technical program, with Surya Bonaly
Surya Bonaly
Surya Bonaly is a French professional figure skater. She is a three-time World Championship silver medalist, a five-time European Champion, the 1991 World Junior Champion and a nine-time French National Champion.-Career:...
and Tanja Szewczenko
Tanja Szewczenko
Tanja Szewczenko is a German figure skater and actress. She is the 1994 World bronze medalist and 1998 European bronze medalist.-Biography:...
in second and third, respectively. In the free skate, she was beaten by Bonaly 8-1 in the technical mark, but she came over Bonaly in the artistic mark 8-1, and she won the title by a 5-4 vote between the judges.
Professional career
Following her win at the 1994 World Championships, Sato retired from amateur skating and began touring professionally. She performed in many shows and toured with Stars on IceStars on Ice
Stars on Ice is a touring figure skating show produced by IMG. It was originally conceived in 1986 as a vehicle for IMG client Scott Hamilton, who had been released from his contract with Ice Capades, after being told that male skaters do not sell tickets...
. She married Jason Dungjen
Jason Dungjen
Jason Dungjen is an American retired pair skater who was a two-time U.S. national champion. He is currently a skating coach....
and began touring with him as a pair skater professionally. As a professional skater, she won the 1995, 2000, 2001 and 2002 World Professional Figure Skating Championships
World Professional Figure Skating Championships
The World Professional Figure Skating Championships, often referred to as Landover, was an elite made-for-TV figure skating competition. It was created by Dick Button, a 2-time Olympic gold medalist, through his production company Candid Productions. It usually took place in December...
and placed second at that competition in 1996 and 1998.
Sato works as a sports commentator
Sports commentator
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
for Japanese television. She worked for NHK
NHK
NHK is Japan's national public broadcasting organization. NHK, which has always identified itself to its audiences by the English pronunciation of its initials, is a publicly owned corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee....
during the 2006 Winter Olympics
2006 Winter Olympics
The 2006 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XX Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Turin, Italy from February 10, 2006, through February 26, 2006. This marked the second time Italy hosted the Olympic Winter Games, the first being the VII Olympic Winter...
and commentated on the broadcast of Shizuka Arakawa
Shizuka Arakawa
is a Japanese figure skater.She is the 2006 Olympic Champion in Ladies Singles and the 2004 World Champion. Arakawa is the first Japanese skater to win an Olympic gold medal in figure skating and the second Japanese skater to win any Olympic medal in figure skating, after Midori Ito, who won silver...
's winning performance.
Sato works as a coach and choreographer. Among her choreography clients is Takahiko Kozuka
Takahiko Kozuka
is a Japanese figure skater. He is the 2011 World silver medalist and Japanese national champion, the 2006 World Junior Champion, the 2009 Four Continents bronze medalist, a two-time Grand Prix Final medalist and the 2005-2006 Junior Grand Prix Final champion....
. She began coaching Jeremy Abbott
Jeremy Abbott
Jeremy Abbott is an American figure skater. He is the 2008 Grand Prix Final Champion, a two-time Four Continents bronze medalist and two-time U.S. national champion. He represented the United States at the 2010 Winter Olympics, where he placed ninth.-Personal life:Jeremy Abbott was born in...
in May 2009 and Alissa Czisny
Alissa Czisny
Alissa Czisny is an American figure skater. She is the 2010–2011 Grand Prix Final champion, two-time U.S. national champion, the 2007 U.S...
in May 2010.
Competitive highlights
| Event | 1988-89 | 1989-90 | 1990-91 | 1991-92 | 1992-93 | 1993-94 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Olympic Games | 7th | 5th | ||||
| World Championships World Figure Skating Championships The World Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which elite figure skaters compete for the title of World Champion... |
14th | 8th | 4th | 1st | ||
| World Junior Championships World Junior Figure Skating Championships The World Junior Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which younger figure skaters compete for the title of World Junior Champion... |
10th | 1st | ||||
| Japanese Championships Japan Figure Skating Championships The Japan or All-Japan Figure Skating Championships are a figure skating national championship held annually to determine the national champions of Japan. Skaters compete in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies singles, pair skating, and ice dancing, although not every discipline has been held... |
3rd | 2nd | 2nd | 1st | 1st | |
| Japanese Jr. Championships Japan Junior Figure Skating Championships The Japan Junior Figure Skating Championships is a figure skating competition held annually to crown the national champions on the Junior level for Japan. The first Japan Junior Figure Skating Championships was held in 1931. It is the junior level equivalent of the Japan Figure Skating Championships... |
1st | 1st | ||||
| Skate America Skate America Skate America is an international, senior-level figure skating competition held as part of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. It is organized by the United States Figure Skating Association. The location changes yearly... |
1st | |||||
| Skate Canada International Skate Canada International The Skate Canada International is an international, senior-level invitation-only figure skating competition organized by Skate Canada. It is the second competition of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating. The location changes yearly. Medals are awarded in four disciplines: Ladies' singles, Men's... |
4th | 7th | ||||
| Nations Cup Bofrost Cup on Ice The Bofrost Cup on Ice was a figure skating competition held in Germany between 1986 and 2004. It was part of the Grand Prix series until 2003, when it was replaced by Cup of China. Following being booted out of the Grand Prix series, a new form of competition was introduced to the Bofrost Cup... |
5th | |||||
| NHK Trophy NHK Trophy The NHK Trophy is an international, senior-level figure skating competition held as part of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. Figure skaters compete in the disciplines of ladies' singles, men's singles, pair skating, and ice dancing.... |
5th | 3rd | 2nd | 3rd | ||
| Prague Skate | 1st | |||||
| Piruetten | 6th | |||||