Cha Jun-hwan’s harsh reality check: "I won’t make reckless attempts"... Complete overhaul of Milan Olympic strategy

[The Financial News] Star figure skater Cha Jun-hwan has announced a shocking "diet" in the run-up to the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. He has decided to cut back the five quad jumps he had planned to include, reducing them to three. The original plan to win with a barrage of high-difficulty elements has been scrapped, replaced by a far more realistic focus on stability.
Cha Jun-hwan’s expression was grimly determined as he arrived back at Incheon International Airport on the 26th. He returned with a silver medal from the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in Beijing around his neck, but his eyes were already fixed on Milan. Standing before reporters, he made it clear: "I’ll do one quad in the short program and two in the free." The ambitious layout of "two quads in the short, three in the free" was boldly thrown out. The reason was simple and cold-blooded: a clear-eyed recognition that "an unprepared challenge is reckless."

In effect, it is a strategic retreat. However, Cha Jun-hwan plans to make up for it with the quality of his elements. "Even if I reduce the number of jumps, I can still be competitive if I secure good Grades of Execution (GOE)," he said confidently. Rather than risk falls by attempting five quads, he intends to land three quads cleanly and sweep up the bonus points — a pragmatic, results-first game plan.
His program change is just as bold. He has dropped this season’s carefully prepared "Moulin Rouge" and brought back last season’s "Ballade for the Madman." On the Olympic stage, he has chosen something tried and true over a risky new venture. The decision has already paid off: he won the free skate at the Four Continents Championships and posted a season-best total of 273.62 points.

The skate boot issues that had been holding him back have also been resolved. Now the only battle left is mental. Selected by the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC) as a flag bearer for the opening ceremony alongside Park Ji-woo, Cha Jun-hwan said, "It’s an honor to serve as flag bearer at my third Olympics," while still keeping his guard up.
Cha Jun-hwan has transformed from a boy chasing a dream into a cold-blooded competitor. Will his "three-quad gamble" be enough to turn the ice in Milan to gold? The global figure skating community is watching closely as he abandons flash for substance in what could be his final big gamble.
jsi@fnnews.com Reporter Jeon Sang-il Reporter