Zhou feels that Kinoshita is his first big deal since medaling at last year's world championshipsGETTY IMAGES
Kinoshita Group made history by becoming the first Japanese company to "sponsor a foreign skater and their training expenses" when it partnered with U.S. figure skater Vincent Zhou, according to Jack Gallagher of the JAPAN TIMES. Zhou, a Bronze medalist at the world championships last year and sixth-place finisher at the '18 Pyeongchang Games, entered into a deal with Kinoshita last week. The "nexus of the pact" between Zhou and Kinoshita was the "relationship that coach Mie Hamada maintains with both." Zhou said Kinoshita is "actually my first big sponsor." He said, "I don't really have many big sponsors. Financially, skating is a big struggle, so I am super grateful that there are people that are willing to support my journey." Zhou added, "Potential sponsors keep an eye out for talent in the skating world, so with my progress in the second half of last season, lots of people I feel like started to turn their eyes toward me and notice me a little more." Zhou noted the deal is "just for one year," declining to disclose financial terms. Zhou: "We will meet again at the end of the coming season. We will rediscuss, but hopefully I can get some good results this season and show potential for 2022" (JAPAN TIMES, 7/2).
