Adam Hagara: "I want to become one of the best skaters in the world"

August 24, 2025
By Reut Golinsky
Photo © International Skating Union (ISU)

In season 2023/24 Adam Hagara became the first Slovak to qualify for the Junior GPF, where he took bronze. Then he brought home silver from the Youth Olympics and bronze from Junior Worlds. Balancing junior and senior competitions, it's understandable that by his eleventh (!) event he must have been pretty worn out. When we caught up during Worlds 2024 - right after his short program, when he didn't qualify for the free skate - he sounded upset.

"Although I still felt a lot of strength in me and tried to enjoy myself on the ice, doing my best, it didn't work out the way I would have liked," he admitted back then. "But I think I can be happy with the season, and I'm also glad that I didn't give up today and fought till the end."

The Youth Olympics in Gangwon, which hopefully gave him a taste of what to expect in Milan 2026, were "the most fun competition" of that season for him: "Besides competing, I participated in the education program, learned about anti-doping, and, with other skaters, we went to see curling, hockey, and other winter sports. Overall, we had a lot of fun. Of course, I hope to make it to the Winter Games in 2026."

And a year later he did! The mood couldn't be different between the talk we had at Worlds 2024 and the one we had at Worlds 2025, where he not only had great performances but also qualified his country for the Olympic Games.

How did you approach this competition? Did you learn lessons from the last Worlds? How did you prepare yourself mentally?

This year was a bit of a learning experience for me. I didn't have the best start of the season. I was also injured. But then I changed my mindset a little bit, and I tried to approach the competitions with more energy. I had a clear head before the competition, and I tried to just enjoy the programs and treat it like a smaller competition. Also, for this competition, I went in with a thought: "What do I have to lose? I just have to try to get my best performance and not give up. That's the most important thing."
That's the mindset I went with, and I think it works for me.

You were injured? When did that happen?

Before my second Junior Grand Prix, I probably overtrained my ankle and it got really inflamed. For about half the season it was one week on the ice, two weeks off. After Nationals things changed and I just started training again and did my best. I think it worked - I'm really happy it didn't continue.

It was a really good season for you - another Junior bronze, solid Europeans, great Worlds. How would you sum up this season?

Like I said, this season I tried to change my mindset. I really worked on my performance skills and my spins, and I cleaned up my jumps so they look cleaner. I worked hard to put it all together. I tried to do my best every practice and to overcome my fears - especially with the quads. Mentally it's hard for me, but I try to face it in practice and always get out of my comfort zone and push a little further.

How do quads go in practice?

It's on and off. Sometimes I land every single one I jump in practice - like seven in a row - and then other times I fall on seven in a row.We thought about going for quads here [in Boston], but we decided this morning it's not the right time yet. I hope in the first competition of next season I'll go for it, maybe even in the short program. I really worked hard on them this season - I think that's the part I should push more.

It's important not to fixate on quads though, you were leading after your skate here even though some men before you had quads.

Maybe, but I still want them. For example, at Worlds 2023 in Japan Jun-hwan Cha finished second with just two quads. I would like to have a quad or two quads that are really stable and clean so I can get higher GOEs on them. Then I can do the rest of the program like I do now. I think I have a good chance to move up, at least at Europeans, so that's what I'm going to work hard on next season.

Were you working on a quad toe or other quads as well?

I was really focused on the quad toe, but since I'm not competing with the quads yet, I've also trained the Salchow.

You have Youth Olympics experience - does that change how you think about the "senior" Olympics? What will be similar or different?

I'm really looking forward to meeting some of our hockey players! But also other athletes as well. But for the competition I'll try to treat it like any other event. I'll imagine it's a normal competition and just enjoy it and not give up. Sometimes I lack confidence, but this season I feel I gained more confidence and I think I'll push forward.

You're young, hopefully there will be more Olympic Games in your career. This one is a chance to relax and gain experience for the next Games.

Yes. But, for example, Yuzuru won his first Olympics when he was 19! So yes, I will do my best to get the best possible placement there.
It's still early to know details like whether I'll be able to come for the opening ceremony. They weren't even sure I would qualify, although they were expecting me to. To tell the truth, I don't like spending too much time at competitions; I feel my mindset weakens if I'm there too long. I prefer to have a lot of practice at home, then go there, skate my programs, and then leave. Basically, that is what works best for me.

But it's a pity. Since it's in Europe you won't need much time to adjust. Hopefully you'll be able to enjoy the Games a bit longer.

I'll try to enjoy it, of course. I hope everything goes well. I'll keep working on myself and try to make it to the top. I want to become one of the best skaters in the world one day. I will try and do my best.

I should admit I will miss your Tom Odell program ("Another Love", short program for seasons 23/24 and 24/25), it felt like a nice farewell. I read you wanted to do something fun and different next season.

Yes - maybe something fun, because I feel I have this side in me too. So not sad and emotional, but more fun and emotional, hopeful. We'll see. Maybe rock 'n' roll or jazz, I don't know yet. The important thing is to choose a program I'm comfortable with, can really skate to, and enjoy.

The plan is to do the choreography in mid-May. I'll work with Jorik (Hendrickx) again. He understands me and how I skate, and I'm happy with how we make the programs.

I'm looking forward to seeing the results of that work. Good luck next season - enjoy it. You still have time - don't think about other skaters; you are you, and you have a lot to be proud of!

Adam spent a fruitful summer, which included, among other things, bonding with the Slovak Olympic Team. Of course, he also worked on new programs that he is still refining. He's excited to showcase them at the Nepela Memorial Challenger at the end of September, which will be the first event of his season.