Hiro Kaewtathip Makes History With Thailand's First Junior Grand Prix Figure Skating Medal

The score flashed across the arena screens at the IWIS International Training Center in Bangkok on September 5, 2026, and a new era for Southeast Asian winter sports officially began. Fifteen-year-old Hiro Kaewtathip stared at the numbers—a massive 147.96 in the free skate, pushing his total to 229.51—and realized he had just made history. With that score, Kaewtathip secured the bronze medal in the junior men's singles event at the ISU Junior Grand Prix Bangkok, becoming the first Thai figure skater to ever stand on a Junior Grand Prix podium.[1][2]

For a nation without a deep winter sports pedigree, the achievement is seismic. The Junior Grand Prix circuit is the ultimate proving ground for the sport's next generation of Olympic talent, historically dominated by powerhouses from Japan, North America, and Russia. Kaewtathip’s breakthrough on home ice shatters that geographic ceiling, proving that sustained investment and elite coaching can cultivate world-class talent anywhere.[2][3]

The stakes were clear from the moment Kaewtathip stepped onto the ice for his short program on September 3. Skating to "Saturn" by Sleeping at Last, the Thai-Japanese teenager delivered a crisp, technically demanding routine that earned him 81.55 points. That personal-best score slotted him into third place heading into the weekend, putting the historic medal squarely within reach.[1][5]

He didn't flinch under the pressure. During Saturday's free skate, set to Balazs Havasi's "The Storm," Kaewtathip executed a commanding program that highlighted his rapid technical progression over the past year. The 147.96 he earned was another personal best, cementing his 229.51 total and keeping him comfortably ahead of the chasing pack.[1][2][6]

The top of the podium showcased the sheer firepower currently defining the junior men's field. Lev Lazarev, competing as an Individual Neutral Athlete (AIN), captured gold with a towering 260.90 points, while New Zealand's Yanhao Li took silver with a 244.68. But inside the Bangkok arena, the loudest ovation was reserved for the hometown hero who had just rewritten the Thai record books.[1][3]

Kaewtathip’s rise hasn't been accidental. The 15-year-old currently trains 17 hours a week at LA Elite Ice in Los Angeles, working under a coaching team that includes Amy Evidente, Derrick Delmore, and Jonathan Cassar. That high-level international training environment has clearly paid dividends, transforming him from a promising regional skater into a legitimate global contender.[5][6]

The Bangkok performance builds on a wave of momentum Kaewtathip generated earlier this summer. In August 2026, he captured the junior men's title at the Asian Open Figure Skating Trophy in Jakarta, signaling that he was ready to challenge the sport's elite. "He has come so far in the last year, particularly considering he was injured and didn't compete for almost half a year just two seasons ago," one fan noted on the r/FigureSkating community, capturing the sentiment of a fanbase watching a star arrive.[2][4][5]

The ripple effects of this medal will likely be felt across the region. Five other Thai skaters—including Chawit Chiamhatsap and Tharan Warasitthichai in the men’s event—also competed in Bangkok. For them, and for younger skaters across Southeast Asia, Kaewtathip just provided a tangible blueprint for competing at the highest level.[1][2]

The focus now shifts to the remainder of the Junior Grand Prix season. With stops upcoming in Ankara and Batumi, the race to qualify for December's Junior Grand Prix Final in Chongqing is intensifying. By securing bronze in Bangkok, Kaewtathip has put himself firmly in the conversation for a spot in that prestigious final—a scenario that would have seemed unthinkable for a Thai skater just a few years ago.[3]