Tatsuki MACHIDA (JPN)

Hmm, what’s gonna happen. Before, I said I wanted to be a novelist. If there are ever any good ideas that are floating around in my head when I go to bed, I would write them down (laughs). Maybe I’ll have a family in 10 years. Whether I’ll still competing be… it’s unlikely. I mean, come on, I’ll be 32 years old! But, skating will forever be a part of my life. I’m not sure what will happen, but I will keep on skating. Even if I’m not competing, I want to continue to fully express myself in my skating.

What will skating be like in 10 years?

Skating is really exciting right now. But, I want it to be even more exciting. I love skating and don’t want this to be all that we can do. In Japan, there are a ton of sell-out shows right now. Wouldn’t it be depressing if that level of interest goes down? I want skating to last, so if this is the highest we go, that’s sad for all of us skating now. That’s why, I want it to be even better than it is now. The next generation can see the level we’re up against.

So, it’s important they keep up, not just in skating technique, but also in developing competition experience and to come to terms with all sorts of challenges down the line.