Seoul: Buoyed by a strong finish at his final Olympic tuneup competition, figure skater Cha Jun-hwan announced he will maintain his low-risk, conservative programs at the Milan-Cortina Winter Games next month. Cha's decision comes after a successful performance at the International Skating Union (ISU) Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in Beijing, where he secured a silver medal with a season-best score of 273.62 points.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Cha overcame a sixth-place finish after the short program, where he scored 88.89 points, by delivering the best free skate score in the field with a season-high 184.73 points. This impressive performance left him just 0.11 points behind the winner, Kao Miura of Japan. Earlier in the season, Cha struggled with executing quadruple jumps due to ankle issues caused by ill-fitting boots. Consequently, he reduced the number of quadruple jumps in his routines, which proved successful as he won the national team trials and reached the podium at the Four Continents.

Cha expressed his satisfaction with the improvement in the quality of his technical elements since the national team trials, stating, "I think I can still earn points (without many quadruple jumps) and I will try to be as sharp as possible technically." Despite considering a return to his earlier, more challenging programs, Cha decided against it due to time constraints and the risk of injury.

While Cha may not match the technical prowess of skaters like Ilia Malinin of the United States, known as the "Quad God," he compensates with his artistry. Cha, a former child actor, consistently receives high marks for his performances. At the Four Continents, he led in the program component score (PCS) for both the free skate and short program, highlighting his artistic quality.

Ahead of the Olympics, Cha has also changed the soundtrack for his free skate, returning to "Balada para un Loco," a piece from a previous season. "I went back to my old program at the Four Continents and I was glad I performed as well as I did last season," Cha remarked, emphasizing the personal connection he feels with the music. Additionally, Cha reported that his previous boot issues are resolved, allowing him to focus on training and competing effectively.