Taguchi and Nakahara deliver a perfect opening for Japan at 2025 Junior Worlds in Almaty
Jan 07, 2025·Freestyle
The first day of the 2025 FIS Freestyle Junior World Championships is officially in the books, and what a start it was! The event kicked off in style with the moguls competition on the iconic Yuka G course at Shymbulak Ski Resort, marking a fantastic opening to this year’s championships.
It was a day to remember for Team Japan, who secured not one, but two gold medals in a dominant display.
In the women’s event, Yuma Taguchi (JPN) stole the show with the best run of the top-6 super final, earning herself the top spot on the podium with a score of 72.43 points. After winning back-to-back bronze medals at last year’s Junior Worlds in Chiesa in Valmalenco, Taguchi took her performance to new heights on Tuesday in Almaty, clinching her first Junior World Championships gold medal.
Local fan favorite Anastassiya Gorodko (KAZ) delighted the home crowd with a silver-medal performance. Competing in her final Junior World Championships, Gorodko was the fastest skier in the finals but faced small errors, including a slip after the bottom air, which ultimately cost her the top spot. She finished with 70.79 points, earning her fifth Junior Worlds medal.
Rounding out the women’s podium was another Japanese star, Kurea Mise, who claimed the bronze medal with 66.63 points.
The men’s competition brought just as much excitement, with Osuke Nakahara delivering a flawless performance to claim Japan’s second gold medal of the day. Nakahara’s super final run was a masterclass in precision and power, earning him a score of 77.23 points and solidifying his status as the strongest athlete on the men’s side.
The silver medal went to France’s Leo Crozet, who impressed with a score of 74.58 points. Meanwhile, Yoonseung Lee (KOR), the 2024 Youth Olympic Games winner, rounded out the podium with a bronze-medal performance, scoring 72.79 points.
Full results are available here: WOMEN / MEN
For those who missed the live action, the replay of the moguls competitions is available on our YouTube channel for your viewing pleasure (link below).
The Junior World Championships continue on Wednesday with the highly anticipated dual moguls event. For the full schedule and live-streaming details, check out our event preview HERE.
