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"Figure skating is like a 'comrade-in-arms,' an irreplaceable part of my life."

Mone Chiba, 3rd year student, e-School (Online Degree Program), School of Human Sciences

In the corridor of the Okuma Memorial Hall

One of the athletes attracting attention in Japan, one of the world's leading "figure skating powerhouses," is Mone Chiba (affiliated with Kinoshita Group), a member of the Waseda University Figure Skating Club. In the 2025-2026 season, she made her debut at the Milan-Cortina Olympics in February. Although she narrowly missed out on a medal, finishing in 4th place, she went on to win a silver medal at the World Championships held in Prague, Czech Republic, continuing to perform well on the world stage. Amidst all this, Chiba, who is also studying through e-school (Online Degree Program), spoke to us about her sport, how she balances her studies and athletics, and her future goals.

—Could you tell us what inspired you to start figure skating?

When I was four years old, I watched a figure skating competition on TV and was so captivated by its glamour that I begged my mother to let me start, saying, "I want to spin around like that too!" At first, I just skated for fun, but by the time I was in sixth grade and participated in my first international competition, I began to feel a desire to compete on the world stage and to aim for the top. Now, I feel like figure skating is my comrade-in-arms, and it's an irreplaceable part of my life.

Photo on the left: At age 5, at the skating rink at "Bell Sunpia Miyagi Izumi" (Photo provided by Chiba)
Photo on the right: A photo taken when Chiba competed in the "2017 Asian Open Figure Skating Trophy Advanced Novice Class (a category for ages 9 to 14 according to International Skating Union regulations)" held in Hong Kong. Chiba is second from the left (photo provided by Chiba).

—You were already competing in senior international tournaments during your high school years, so why did you choose to attend Waseda University?

I researched various university programs to find the best balance between practice time and academics. After much research, I decided to apply to Waseda University's School of Human Sciences (Online Degree Program), which offers a distance learning program, because I believe it allows me to study what I want while also pursuing figure skating.

—You achieved your goal of competing in the Olympics, and you also won your first and consecutive titles in the Grand Prix Series of international competitions. You also won a silver medal at the World Championships. How would you evaluate these results?

This season has been full of ups and downs, and it has been a year that has strengthened me mentally more than physically. I was able to win the Grand Prix series at the beginning of the season, but then I came in 5th at the Grand Prix Final, 3rd at the All Japan Championships, and 4th at the Olympics. I was unable to perform my perfect routine, and the results have been disappointing.

A photo taken during the women's free skate at the Milan-Cortina Olympics held in February 2026 (Photo: Kyodo News).

However, at the World Championships, I was able to utilize the experiences from both the successful and disappointing matches of this season, which led to a silver medal. I feel that this season was a time of significant mental growth for me.

Chiba strikes her finishing pose in the women's short program at the 2026 World Figure Skating Championships held in Prague, Czech Republic (Photo: Kyodo News).

While the Olympics left me with some regrets, it was also a dream stage that I had longed for since I was a child, so being able to stand there and perform while sharing the space with the audience was a very happy moment. There were many aspects of my performance and results that I was not satisfied with, but I gained valuable experience throughout the Olympics.

—With frequent overseas tours throughout the season, what specifically are you studying at university?

I'm learning psychological approaches to how to stabilize my skating technique and how to cope with nervousness during competitions. I tend to get nervous when there are negative aspects to a competition, but the psychological idea of Focus on what I can do and what I can control has actually been helpful in overcoming my anxiety.

I also feel that I'm able to apply performance cognitive science, which deals with how to approach my own movements, to my sport.

A person working on an assignment at their computer (Photo provided by Chiba)

I make sure to work on my class assignments on my days off from skating practice. That said, one day isn't enough, so I also make use of the time between practice sessions. I usually practice for three and a half hours every day. I study a little bit in the 30 minutes or so I have in between practice sessions. During competitions and overseas trips, I want to concentrate on skating, so I try to finish my university assignments as much as possible before I leave.

—Did the presence of senior Olympians such as Shizuka Arakawa (graduated from School of Education in 2004), who is also alumni of the skating club to which Chiba belongs, and Yuzuru Hanyu (graduated in 2020), who was enrolled in the same School of Human Sciences (Online Degree Program), have any influence on you?

I was aware that there are many figure skaters who are graduates of Waseda University. In my case, I chose Waseda because the field I wanted to study fit my interests, so it was a coincidence that I was able to follow the same path as my admired seniors, but I consider it an honor to be in the same environment as them.

—I understand you keep in touch with your skating club teammates online. What are your peers like to you?

I remember feeling incredibly reassured when I entered the school because there were fellow skaters in the skating club who I'd known since my junior days. As figure skaters of the same age, we still keep in touch and encourage each other, telling each other, "Let's do our best to balance both competition and academics."

This photo was taken in January 2026 when Chiba paid a courtesy visit to President Tanaka, with director Junko Yaginuma (a 1995 graduate of School of Education, pictured in the front row, far left) and her teammates from the skating club. Chiba is in the center of the front row.

--Finally, could you tell us about your goals for the future?

In my studies, I will continue to work hard with the goal of graduating. In figure skating, I aim to improve both my expressive and technical aspects next season. Expressively, I would like to challenge myself with music in genres I haven't done before, and technically, I want to not only try new jumps but also raise the overall quality of my skating, spins, and body usage to a higher level. I want to have more and more competitions where I can finish with a smile.

On the podium at the 2026 World Figure Skating Championships. Chiba is pictured on the left, smiling and holding her silver medal (Photo: Kyodo News).

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Interview and text by: Naoto Oguma (graduated from School of Letters, Arts and Sciences II in 2002)
Edited by: Nanami Yoneda, 4th year student School of Social Sciences Waseda Weekly Student Staff
Photography: Kota Nunokawa