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Kaori Sakamoto

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Kaori Sakamoto
Sakamoto performing her short program at the 2024 World Championships
Native name坂本花織
Born (2000-04-09) April 9, 2000 (age 24)
Kobe, Japan
Height1.59 m (5 ft 2+1⁄2 in)
Figure skating career
Country Japan
DisciplineWomen's singles
CoachSonoko Nakano
Mitsuko Graham
Sei Kawahara
Skating clubSysmex Kobe
Began skating2004
Event Gold medal – first place Silver medal – second place Bronze medal – third place
Olympic Games 0 1 1
World Championships 3 0 0
Four Continents Championships 1 0 0
Grand Prix Final 1 0 0
Japan Championships 4 2 0
World Team Trophy 0 1 2
World Junior Championships 0 0 1
Junior Grand Prix Final 0 0 1
Medal list
"" Olympic Games ""
Silver medal – second place 2022 Beijing Team
Bronze medal – third place 2022 Beijing Singles
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2022 Montpellier Singles
Gold medal – first place 2023 Saitama Singles
Gold medal – first place 2024 Montreal Singles
Four Continents Championships
Gold medal – first place 2018 Taipei Singles
Grand Prix Final
Gold medal – first place 2023–24 Beijing Singles
Japan Championships
Gold medal – first place 2018–19 Osaka Singles
Gold medal – first place 2021–22 Saitama Singles
Gold medal – first place 2022–23 Osaka Singles
Gold medal – first place 2023–24 Nagano Singles
Silver medal – second place 2017–18 Tokyo Singles
Silver medal – second place 2020–21 Nagano Singles
World Team Trophy
Silver medal – second place 2019 Fokuoka Team
Bronze medal – third place 2021 Osaka Team
Bronze medal – third place 2023 Tokyo Team
World Junior Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2017 Taipei Singles
Junior Grand Prix Final
Bronze medal – third place 2016–17 Marseille Singles

Kaori Sakamoto (坂本花織, Sakamoto Kaori, born April 9, 2000) is a Japanese figure skater. She is the 2022 Olympic women's singles bronze medalist, the 2022 Olympic team event silver medalist,[a] a three-time World champion (2022, 2023, 2024), the 2023–24 Grand Prix Final champion, the 2018 Four Continents champion, an eleven-time ISU Grand Prix medalist (seven golds, three silvers, and one bronze), and a four-time Japanese national champion. At the junior level, she is the 2017 World Junior bronze medalist and the 2016–17 Junior Grand Prix Final bronze medalist.

She is the first Japanese woman to win the World Championships since Mao Asada in 2014, the first Japanese skater to win three consecutive World titles in any discipline, and the first woman to win three consecutive World titles since Peggy Fleming (1966–1968).

Personal life

[edit]

Kaori Sakamoto was born on 9 April 2000 in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, in Japan. The decision for Sakamoto to become a figure skater was made as a family decision at an early age.[1] She graduated from Kobe Gakuin University in September 2023.[2] Her hobbies are swimming and completing jigsaw puzzles.[3]

Sakamoto was awarded the Kobe City Sports Special Award in August 2023 for becoming a two-time World Figure Skating Champion.[4]

Skating career

[edit]

Early years

[edit]

Sakamoto began learning to skate on November 18, 2003, in Kobe and has been with her coaches Sonoko Nakano, Mitsuko Graham, and Sei Kawahara since starting. [5][6]

She won the gold medal at the 2012–13 Japan Novice Championships and placed 9th at the Japan Junior Championships in the same year. She was invited to skate in the gala at the 2013 World Team Trophy.

Junior career

[edit]

2013–2014 season: International junior debut

[edit]

During the 2013–2014 season, Sakamoto debuted on the ISU Junior Grand Prix (JGP) circuit, placing sixth in Ostrava, Czech Republic. She finished eighth at the Japan Junior Championships.

2014–2015 season

[edit]

Sakamoto started her season by finishing seventh at her JGP event in Aichi, Japan. She won the Japanese national silver medal on the junior level before placing sixth on the senior level at the 2014–15 Japan Championships. Those results gave her a spot to compete at the 2015 World Junior Championships, where she placed fourth in the short program and 6th in the free skate to place sixth overall.

2015–2016 season

[edit]

Sakamoto began her season by winning the silver medal at her JGP event in Riga, Latvia, and finishing fourth at her JGP event in Toruń, Poland. Due to a stress fracture in her right shinbone, she stayed off the ice in October and resumed skating without jumps in November.[7] At the Japanese Championships, she placed fifth competing in the junior event and thirteenth on the senior level. Sakamoto was selected to compete at the 2016 Winter Youth Olympics. She placed fifth in the short program and sixth in the free skate to finish sixth overall.

2016–2017 season: World Junior bronze

[edit]
Bronze medalist Sakamoto (right) with compatriot silver medalist Marin Honda at the 2017 World Junior Figure Skating Championships

Sakamoto received medals at both of her 2016–17 JGP assignments – silver in France and gold in Japan[7] – and then won the Japanese junior title. In December, she took the bronze medal at the Junior Grand Prix Final in Marseille, France, and placed seventh, competing on the senior level at the Japan Championships. She was assigned to replace the injured Satoko Miyahara at the 2017 Asian Winter Games but withdrew due to the flu.[8] She went on to win bronze at the 2017 World Junior Championships.[9] She was invited to skate in the gala at the 2017 World Team Trophy as the junior world bronze medalist.

Senior career

[edit]

2017–2018 season: Four Continents champion and Pyeongchang Olympics

[edit]
Sakamoto at the 2018 Four Continents Championships

Sakamoto started her first full senior season at the 2017 Asian Figure Skating Trophy, placing first in both segments to take the gold. At the 2017 U.S Classic, she placed fifth in the short program and 4th in the free skate to place fourth overall, behind compatriot and gold medalist Marin Honda. Making her senior Grand Prix debut, she finished 5th at the 2017 Rostelecom Cup after placing fourth in the short program and fifth in the free skate. At the 2017 Skate America, she scored new personal best scores for both segments of the competition; she placed second in both the short program and free skate and won the silver medal overall behind teammate Satoko Miyahara.

Sakamoto at the 2018 Winter Olympics

Sakamoto won the short program at the 2017–18 Japan Figure Skating Championships. In the free skate, she placed fourth and won the silver medal, her first senior national medal. Following the competition, the Japan Skating Federation named Sakamoto to Japan's team to the 2018 Winter Olympics, alongside Satoko Miyahara.[10] Sakamoto was named in Japan's team to the 2018 Four Continents Championships with Miyahara and training-mate Mai Mihara. She was also selected as the first alternate for the 2018 World Championships, behind Miyahara and Wakaba Higuchi.

At the 2018 Four Continents Championships, Sakamoto placed second in the short program with a new personal best score behind teammate Satoko Miyahara. Sakamoto won the free skate with another personal best score and the championship, leading a Japanese sweep of the podium.

Sakamoto competed in the ladies free skating portion of the Team Event at the 2018 Winter Olympics. She placed fifth individually and fifth overall within Team Japan. In the ladies' singles competition, Sakamoto skated a new personal best short program and was fifth going into the free skate. In the free skate, Sakamoto made minor mistakes but still was able to post the sixth-highest free skating score of the event and ended in sixth place overall.

Post-Olympics, Sakamoto competed at the 2018 Coupe du Printemps. In the short program, she placed first. In the free skate, she fell on the second jump of a planned double axel-triple toe loop-double toe loop combination and doubled a planned triple loop to place second in the segment. She ended the competition second overall behind compatriot Mai Mihara.

2018–2019 season: First national title

[edit]
Sakamoto (right) with Alina Zagitova (center) and Stanislava Konstantinova (left) at the 2018 Grand Prix of Helsinki podium

Sakamoto began the season at the 2018 CS Lombardia Trophy, where a disastrous short program left her in ninth place going into the free skate. She placed second in the free skate, rebounding to fourth place overall. Subsequently, Sakamoto indicated that she felt she had not had enough practice time before the event.[11] Competing at the 2018 Skate America, she repeated as the silver medalist, again finishing behind compatriot Miyahara. She pronounced herself "satisfied" with the results.[12] At her second event, the 2018 Grand Prix of Helsinki, Sakamoto fell twice in the short program, ending up in seventh place. She came second in the free skate to place third overall and remarked: "I gave it everything I had; that was the only chance I would have to make it to the podium today. I forgot about yesterday's program, and I just gave my best today."[13]

At the 2018–19 Grand Prix Final, Sakamoto placed fourth in both segments, narrowly missing the podium after falling on the last part of her three-jump combination. She expressed happiness at her score, even with the error.[14]

Competing in the 2018 Japan Championships, Sakamoto placed second in the short program, slightly over a point behind Miyahara, the four-time defending champion. In the free skate, she again placed second, behind Rika Kihira, but placed ahead of Kihira in the overall points total to win the gold medal. In doing so, she became the first skater to place ahead of Kihira in senior competition. She was named to the Japanese teams for the 2019 Four Continents Championships and the 2019 World Championships.[15]

At Four Continents, Sakamoto placed second in the short program with a new personal best, 0.55 points behind Bradie Tennell.[16] In the free skate, she missed her three-jump combination when she popped the opening double Axel, and despite adding a double toe loop to her final jump, she lost several points as a result, and placed fourth in the free. She missed the podium overall by 0.33 points. She expressed frustration at the end, saying, "I was very nervous, and I missed some elements. It was such a disappointment, but I learned from this failure. I want to be stronger. At the World Championships, I want to put out the performance, both short and free, that is sharp and clean."[17]

At the World Championships in Saitama, Sakamoto placed second in the short program, winning a silver small medal.[18] In the free skate, a popped triple flip caused her to fall to fifth place overall. Sakamoto commented: "I still cannot figure out why I always cannot perform a perfect program, a performance without any mistakes."[19] Sakamoto concluded the season at the 2019 World Team Trophy, where she won the silver medal as part of Team Japan.[20]

2019–2020 season: Struggles

[edit]
Sakamoto during her short program at the 2019 Internationaux de France

Sakamoto began the season at the 2019 CS Ondrej Nepela Memorial, where she won the silver medal, her first Challenger medal.

Beginning on the Grand Prix at 2019 Skate America, Sakamoto placed second in the short program and fourth in the free skate after popping two of her jumps and finished the event fourth overall.[21][22] Her second Grand-Prix event was the 2019 Internationaux de France, where she placed sixth in the short program after falling on a double Axel and putting a foot down on her triple loop.[23] Sakamoto was fourth in the free skate, despite several under rotations, rising to fourth place overall.[24]

Sakamoto performing her gala exhibition at the 2019 Internationaux de France

On the 2019–20 Japanese Championships, Sakamoto was third in the short program despite underrotating the back half of her jump combination and was narrowly behind second-place Satoko Miyahara.[25] She struggled in the free skate, underrotating or downgrading five jumps, and falling once, placing seventh in that segment and dropping to sixth place overall.[26] Commenting on her disappointing results afterward, she attributed much of her difficulty this season to the absence of her friend and longtime training partner Mai Mihara, who was sidelined from training due to illness: "But this year I could not fight by myself. I'm old enough now that I should be able to rely on myself."[27]

Despite her sixth-place finish at the national championships, Sakamoto was assigned to compete at the 2020 Four Continents Championships, where she was fourth in the short program despite turning out of the landing on her triple loop.[28] In the free skate, Sakamoto attempted a quad toe loop in competition for the first time but fell and had the jump deemed downgraded. Making several other errors, she dropped to fifth place overall. Speaking afterward, she said, "I couldn't fully trust myself. I'm glad I can use this experience and results as a learning experience for next season and future competitions."[29]

2020–2021 season: Grand Prix gold

[edit]

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sakamoto won both the Kinki Regional Championship and Western Sectionals to qualify for a spot at the national championships.[30] Sakamoto began the international season at the 2020 NHK Trophy, which, to minimize international travel, was attended almost exclusively by Japanese skaters (the exception being You Young of South Korea). She won the short program, introducing the triple Lutz into that segment for the first time in five years.[31] Skating a clean free skate, she won that segment by over twenty points, taking the gold medal by almost thirty. This was her first Grand Prix gold medal. Sakamoto attributed her improvement over the previous season in part to increased strength training facilitated by being off-ice during the pandemic.[32][33]

At the 2020–21 Japan Championships, Sakamoto entered with the perceived momentum from her NHK Trophy win but faced the returning Rika Kihira, who had been scheduled to compete elsewhere on the Grand Prix that season.[34] Sakamoto made an error in her short program, performing only a double toe loop instead of a planned triple as part of her jump combination, but ended up in second place, 7.48 points behind Kihira.[35] Skating cleanly in the free; she remained in second behind Kihira, who successfully performed a quadruple Salchow.[36]

Sakamoto was assigned to the Japanese team for the 2021 World Championships in Stockholm.[36] Sakamoto placed sixth in the short program and fifth in the free skate finishing in the sixth place overall.[37][38] Her placement combined with Kihira's seventh place qualified three Japanese ladies' berths at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.[39] Subsequently, she was announced as part of the Japanese team for the 2021 World Team Trophy.[40] She placed third in the short program and second in the free skate at the Trophy, while Team Japan won the bronze medal.[41][42][43]

2021–2022 season: Beijing Olympics and World champion

[edit]
Sakamoto performing her short program at the 2022 World Championships

Sakamoto began the season at the Olympic test event, the 2021 CS Asian Open, where she won the silver medal.[44] On the Grand Prix, she was once again assigned to Skate America, where she was fourth in the short program after doubling her planned triple flip jump. She was third in the free skate with no issues other than an edge call on her triple Lutz, but remained in fourth place overall, 1.04 points behind bronze medalist You Young.[45][46] Sakamoto's second assignment was Japan's home event 2021 NHK Trophy, which she entered as the frontrunner due to injury-related withdrawals from both Alexandra Trusova and Daria Usacheva. She won both segments of the competition, her only flaws being edge calls on her triple Lutzes and an underrotated triple toe loop. She won her second consecutive gold at the NHK Trophy.[47][48] Sakamoto's results qualified her to the Grand Prix Final, but it was subsequently cancelled due to restrictions prompted by the Omicron variant.[49]

With Rika Kihira absent due to injury, Sakamoto entered the 2021–22 Japan Championships as the favourite for the national title. She skated cleanly to win both segments of the competition and her second gold medal, 12.28 points ahead of silver medalist Wakaba Higuchi. As a result of her victory, she was named to her second Japanese Olympic team.[50]

Kaori Sakamoto performing her free skate at the 2022 World Championships

Sakamoto began the 2022 Winter Olympics as the Japanese entry for the women's free skate segment of the Olympic team event. Skating cleanly, she placed second in the segment, albeit 30 points behind first place Kamila Valieva, taking nine points for Team Japan. Japan would win the bronze medal, making the team event podium for the first time and earning Sakamoto her first Olympic medal.[51] In the women's event, Sakamoto skated a clean short program and earned a new personal best of 79.84, ranking third in the segment behind Valieva and Anna Shcherbakova. She said she was "quite satisfied" with the result and contrasted her prior Olympic experience at age 17 with "a lot of ups and downs in these four years" since.[52] Despite placing third in the short program, it was widely assumed going into the free skate that Sakamoto would be passed by Alexandra Trusova, in fourth, whose technical content greatly exceeded hers.[53] This occurred, despite a clean skate from Sakamoto that produced a new personal best score of 153.29. However, frontrunner Valieva faltered in the free skate and dropped to fourth place overall, resulting in Sakamoto winning the bronze medal. She was the fourth Japanese women's singles skater to win a medal at the Olympics and the first in twelve years since Mao Asada in 2010. Speaking afterward, she thanked her coaches for helping her through "very challenging and struggling years."[54]

At the 2022 World Championships Sakamoto entered the championships as the heavy favorite to take the gold medal, since the Russian skaters had been excluded from the competition.[55] Skating cleanly, she won the short program with a new personal best score of 80.32, 5.32 points clear of second-place Loena Hendrickx of Belgium.[56] She went on to win the free skate as well, setting new personal bests in that segment (155.77) and total score (236.09), the latter nearly twenty points clear of silver medalist Hendrickx. She was Japan's first women's singles skater to win the World Championships since 2014. Sakamoto observed afterward that "four years ago, I didn't compete at the Worlds after the Olympic Games because I felt burned out. It wasn't easy to get ready for this just a month after the Games, but I'm glad I did. It was all worth it."[57]

2022–2023 season: Second consecutive World title

[edit]
Sakamoto performing her short program at the 2022 CS Lombardia Trophy

Sakamoto began the season at the 2022 CS Lombardia Trophy. She finished first in the short program but second in the free skate due to multiple errors, dropping to second place overall behind teammate Rinka Watanabe.[58] At the 2022 Japan Open, she finished first in the women's free skate, helping Team Japan to the gold medal.[59] She opened the Grand Prix series at her fifth Skate America competition. Narrowly first in the short program after performing only a triple-double combination, she won the free skate decisively over American Isabeau Levito to take the gold medal, a result she said left her "filled with joy."[60] Her Janet Jackson medley short program earned praise from Jackson herself.[61] Sakamoto entered the NHK Trophy as the two-time and reigning champion and the favorite for the title. She placed second in the short program, behind South Korea's Kim Ye-lim, after the technical panel deemed one jump underrotated, another a quarter short of rotation, and her Lutz edge unclear.[62] She finished first in the free skate, despite two jumps being called a quarter short of rotation and popping her usually reliable triple loop jump into a single, but remained in second place overall behind Kim. Both women subsequently qualified for the Grand Prix Final.[63] Reflecting on her disappointing result, Sakamoto remarked, "coming into this season, I really wanted to do my best. Inside myself, there were an angel and a devil fighting each other. I want to overcome the devil. It tells me: 'you gave your best last year; this season, you can relax.'"[64]

Sakamoto performing her free skate at the 2022 CS Lombardia Trophy

Sakamoto entered the Final as a contender for the title, winning the short program by 1.28 points over longtime friend and training partner Mai Mihara. She successfully landed a triple-triple combination in the short program for the first time in the season, commenting: "I understand that no matter how my short program goes, I have to do well at the free skate. So finishing my short program perfectly after a long time, although I'm relieved, tomorrow's here soon."[65][66] The free skate saw most participants struggle, with Sakamoto making several critical jump errors, finishing sixth in the segment and dropping to fifth overall. She said afterward that she had struggled in her practice sessions and felt mentally strained, concluding: "In any case, I have no other choice but to accept this result."[67][68]

At the 2022–23 Japan Championships, Sakamoto skated cleanly in the short program for a score of 77.79, taking the lead with 3.09 points over Mihara.[69] Her free skate score, 155.26, was a new domestic personal best, earning her the national title for the second consecutive year, ahead of Mihara and bronze medalist Mao Shimada. Sakamoto, Mihara, and twelfth-place Rinka Watanabe were named to Japan's 2023 World Championship team.[70] Considered the favourite at the 2023 Winter World University Games in Lake Placid, Sakamoto won the short program over Mihara, but fell on her final triple loop jump in the free skate, finishing with the silver medal overall behind Mihara, the defending event champion.[71] Appearing next at the International Challenge Cup at the end of February, Sakamoto won both segments of the competition to take the gold medal, in the process posting her first international free skate score of over 150 points for the season. Mihara and Mana Kawabe joined her in a Japanese sweep of the podium.[72]

At the 2023 World Championships in Saitama, Sakamoto won the short program with a score of 79.24, more than five points clear of South Korea's Lee Hae-in in second place.[73] In the free skate, she singled a planned triple flip jump, the same jump she had erred on in Saitama four years earlier, but still completed the intended jump combination with a triple toe loop. She skated the rest of the program cleanly, finishing second in the segment behind Lee with a score of 145.37, and remained first overall with a score of 224.61 to win her second World gold medal.[74] In doing so, Sakamoto became the fourth woman to win consecutive World Championships since abolition of compulsory figures in 1991, after Kristi Yamaguchi (1991-1992), Michelle Kwan (2000-2001), and Evgenia Medvedeva (2016-2017).[75] Reflecting on her free skate in comparison to her podium miss in 2019, Sakamoto said that "this time, ideally I wanted to skate clean and end with a happy smile. However, I made the same mistake I did four years ago, so I am disappointed. I was able to recover, though, so I think I have grown from four years ago."[76]

Sakamoto was named captain of Team Japan for the 2023 World Team Trophy.[77] In the short program, she underrotated and fell on the second part of her jump combination, but nevertheless placed second in the segment, behind only Lee of Team South Korea.[78] She was second in the free skate segment as well, again behind Lee, with her only error being another fall on a jump combination.[79] Team Japan won the bronze medal.[80]

2023–2024 season: Undefeated season, third consecutive World title

[edit]
Sakamoto performing her free skate at the 2024 World Championships

In preparation for the 2023–24 figure skating season, Sakamoto worked with choreographer Jeffrey Buttle on her short program, having selected the music "Baby, God Bless You" from the soundtrack of Japanese medical drama, Kōnodori. Having become an aunt to a niece and nephew in 2023, Sakamoto stated that she had wanted to dedicate a program specifically to them.[81] As for her free skate, Sakamoto worked with Marie-France Dubreuil for the second year in a row. Regarding the program, Sakamoto said, "It's a jazz program with an image that I've never done before. I've done mature songs before, but it's a genre that I haven't done before, and it has a bit of a sexy part. I think it's a song that I can do because I'm at this age. I'm looking forward to seeing how it will be received." She also worked with retired American ice dancer, Zachary Donohue, over the summer to further improve her skating skills.[82]

Appearing on the Challenger circuit to start the season, Sakamoto won gold at the 2023 CS Autumn Classic International.[83] At the 2023 Japan Open, she finished first in the women's free skate with a score of 149.59, helping Team Japan to win the gold medal.[84]

Sakamoto began the Grand Prix with her first-ever appearance at the Skate Canada International, winning both segments of the competition to take the gold medal by a 25-point margin over silver medalist Kim Chae-yeon of South Korea.[85] With a 151-point free skate score, Sakamoto remarked "not often am I able to skate that well in an international competition."[86] She went on to win the 2023 Grand Prix of Espoo as well, this time defeating fellow Japanese skater Rion Sumiyoshi by exactly 15 points. She commented that "I wanted to skate without major mistakes and to win and I was able to do that. Hopefully it will lead to another first place in the Grand Prix Final."[87]

Sakamoto (center) at the 2024 World Championship Medal Ceremony with Isabeau Levito (left) and Kim Chae-yeon (right)

At the Final in Beijing, Sakamoto won both segments, capturing her first Grand Prix Final title by over 20 points and thereby completing the "Career Grand Slam" of major event gold medals. Reflecting on disappointments in prior years, she said she "went into the Final last year confused – and it showed in competition. I think it may have been my worst performance ever. But I knew I couldn't be any worse and I've been a lot more motivated than last season."[88] At the end of the same month, Sakamoto entered the 2023–24 Japan Championships as the heavy favorite for a fourth straight national title. She won the short program by almost nine points over second-place Mako Yamashita.[89] She went on to win the free skate segment by 13.09 points over Mone Chiba, and claimed the gold medal over Chiba by over 23 points.[90]

At the 2024 World Championships in Montreal, Sakamoto placed fourth in the short program after a somewhat shaky performance that saw a rough landing on her triple Lutz and a stumble in her step sequence. She expressed disappointment with the outing, noting "so many mistakes one after another." Despite this, she was only 0.26 points behind Lee Hae-in, in third place, and 3.69 points behind leader Loena Hendrickx.[91] Sakamoto rallied in the free skate, placing first in that segment by a wide margin to take the gold medal over silver medalist Isabeau Levito and bronze medalist Kim Chae-yeon. Her victory marked the first time in 56 years that a women's singles skater won three consecutive World titles. Reflecting on her performance, Sakamoto remarked, "I was able to calm down today. I was able to keep focused and do my elements one after the other and I am happy with this result."[92]

During the 2024 Paris Olympics, a medal ceremony was held for Sakamoto and her teammates from the 2022 Olympic Figure Skating Team Event, where they were awarded their Olympic silver medals.[93]

2024–2025 season

[edit]

Sakamoto began the season by finishing third at the 2024 CS Lombardia Trophy behind American skaters, Amber Glenn and Sarah Everhardt.[94] Going on to compete on the 2024–25 Grand Prix series, Sakamoto won the short program at 2024 Skate Canada International but fell twice during the free skate, finishing second in that segment of the competition behind teammate, Rino Matsuike. However, her twenty-two point lead over Matsuike in the short program was enough for her to hold onto first place. Following the event, Sakamoto said, "I am happy about the win but I am very disappointed about the content. So, I will take this very big disappointment to heart and make it my motivation to do better."[95] Two weeks later, at the 2024 NHK Trophy, Sakamoto delivered two clean performances and won the event, almost twenty points ahead of silver medalist, Mone Chiba.[96] In a post-event interview, Sakamoto expressed, "I was nervous in a good way. I don't know why, but I had that confidence that I could enjoy myself. I wanted the audience and the judge to have a smile on their faces. I was able to jump well. And at the very end, on the choreography sequence, it was really physically tough. But my coaches enouraged me and I was able to get through."[97] During the event's exhibition gala, all members of the 2022 Olympic Team Event, including Sakamoto, were invited to center stage, wearing their Olympic costumes and Olympic medals, in celebration of their achievement.[98]

With her Grand Prix results, she would qualify for the Grand Prix Final for a third consecutive year.[99]

Programs

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Competition and exhibition programs

[edit]
  • Program details mentioned at first occurrence
  • Olympic seasons highlighted in blue
  • Programs performed at the Winter Olympics highlighted in bold
Competition and exhibition programs by season 
Season Short program Free skate program Exhibition program
2013–14
[100]
—
2014–15
[101]
—
2015–16
 [102]
—
2016–17
 [103]
The Color Purple
  • Composed by Ástor Piazzolla
  • Performed by Kazuma Miura
  • Choreo. by Masashiro Kawagoe
2017–18
Olympic season
 [105][106][107]
Tracks used
  1. "La Valse d'Amélie" (orchestral version)
  2. "Sur le fil"
  3. "La Noyée"
James Bond Medley[104]
  1. "Diamonds Are Forever"
  2. "The Name's Bond ... James Bond"
    • Performed by Nicholas Dodd
The Color Purple[108]
Amélie[109]
Primavera Porteña[109]
2018–19
 [5][110]
"From My First Moment (Gymnopédie No. 1)"
Tracks used
  1. "The Embrace"
  2. "The Scent of Love"
  3. "Deep into the Forest"
  4. "Wild Side" (from Tree of Life Suite by Roberto Cacciapaglia [it])
"Jin"
  • Composed by Tsukuyomi
  • Choreo. by Misao Sato
2019–20
 [111]
  • Composed by Don Davis
  • Choreo. by Benoît Richaud
 "Jin"
2020–21
 [112][113]
Medley:
  1. Prelude No. 2
  2. Bach à la Jazz
    • Composed by Matt Herskowitz, Mary Kerr
  • Choreo. by Benoît Richaud
 The Matrix
"Jin"
2021–22
Olympic season
 [114]
I Am a Woman
  1. "No More Fight Left In Me"
  2. "Tris"
  • Choreo. by Benoît Richaud
"Tango Amore"
2022–23
 [3]
Janet Jackson Medley
  1. "Rock with U"
  2. "Feedback"
(Original song and Clams Casino remix)
  • Performed by Sia
  • Choreo. by Marie-France Dubreuil
"Heart Upon My Sleeve"
"Tango Amore"
2023–24
 [115][116][4]
"Baby, God Bless You"
  • Composed by Shin'ya Kiyozuka
  • Performed by Orchestra Possible
  • Choreo. by Jeffrey Buttle
Lauryn Hill Medley
  1. "Wild Is the Wind"
  2. "Feeling Good"
  • Choreo. by Marie-France Dubreuil
(Violin cover)
  • Performed by Lena Yokoyama
  • Choreo. by Marie-France Dubreuil
2024–25
 [117][118][119]
Ástor Piazzolla Medley
  1. "Resurreccion del Angel"
  2. "La muerte del Angel"
"Poison"

Competitive highlights

[edit]
Sakamoto during the gala at the 2024 World Championships
Competition placements at senior level [94]
Season 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25
Winter Olympics 6th 3rd
Winter Olympics
(Team event) 		5th 2nd
World Championships 5th 6th 1st 1st 1st
Four Continents Championships 1st 4th 5th
Grand Prix Final 4th 5th 1st TBD
Japan Championships 15th 6th 13th 7th 2nd 1st 6th 2nd 1st 1st 1st
World Team Trophy 2nd
(3rd) 		3rd
(2nd) 		3rd
(2nd)
GP Finland 3rd 1st
GP France 4th
GP NHK Trophy 1st 1st 2nd 1st
GP Rostelecom Cup 5th
GP Skate America 2nd 2nd 4th 4th 1st
GP Skate Canada 1st 1st
CS Autumn Classic 1st
CS Lombardia Trophy 4th 2nd 3rd
CS Nepela Memorial 2nd
CS U.S. Classic 4th
Asian Open Trophy 3rd 1st 2nd
Asian Winter Games TBD
Challenge Cup 1st 1st
Coupe du Printemps 2nd
Japan Open 1st
(2nd) 		2nd
(4th) 		1st
(1st) 		1st
(1st)
World University Games 2nd
Competition placements at junior level [94]
Season 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17
Winter Youth Olympics 6th
World Junior Championships 6th 3rd
Junior Grand Prix Final 3rd
Japan Championships 9th 6th 2nd 5th 1st
JGP Czech Republic 6th
JGP France 2nd
JGP Japan 7th 1st
JGP Latvia 2nd
JGP Poland 4th
Asian Open Trophy 1st
Challenge Cup 1st

Detailed results

[edit]
ISU personal best scores in the +5/-5 GOE System [120]
Segment Type Score Event
Total TSS 236.09 2022 World Championships
Short program TSS 80.32 2022 World Championships
TES 43.25 2022 World Championships
PCS 37.07 2022 World Championships
Free skating TSS 155.77 2022 World Championships
TES 80.10 2022 World Championships
PCS 76.20 2024 NHK Trophy
ISU personal best scores in the +3/-3 GOE System [120]
Segment Type Score Event
Total TSS 214.21 2018 Four Continents Championships
Short program TSS 73.18 2018 Winter Olympics
TES 40.36 2018 Winter Olympics
PCS 32.82 2018 Winter Olympics
Free skating TSS 142.87 2018 Four Continents Championships
TES 74.78 2018 Four Continents Championships
PCS 68.11 2018 Winter Olympics

Senior level

[edit]
Sakamoto at the 2018 Grand Prix of Helsinki
Sakamoto at the 2018 Winter Olympics
  • Small medals for the short program and free skating are only awarded at ISU Championships.
  • Medals at team events are awarded for the team results only. Individual placements at team events are listed in parentheses.
Results in the 2017–18 season [94]
Date Event SP FS Total
P Score P Score P Score
Aug 2–5, 2017 Hong Kong 2017 Asian Open Trophy 1 63.70 1 112.41 1 176.11
Sep 13–17, 2017 United States 2017 CS U.S. International Classic 5 56.82 4 112.30 4 169.12
Oct 20–22, 2017 Russia 2017 Rostelecom Cup 4 68.88 5 125.12 5 194.00
Nov 24–26, 2017 United States 2017 Skate America 2 69.40 2 141.19 2 210.59
Dec 21–24, 2017 Japan 2017–18 Japan Championships 1 73.59 4 139.92 2 213.51
Jan 22–28, 2018 Taiwan 2018 Four Continents Championships 2 71.34 1 142.87 1 214.21
Feb 9–12, 2018 South Korea 2018 Winter Olympics (Team event) – – 5 131.91 5 –
Feb 9–12, 2018 South Korea 2018 Winter Olympics 5 73.18 6 136.53 6 209.71
Mar 16–18, 2018 Luxembourg 2018 Coupe du Printemps 1 73.27 2 129.29 2 202.56
Results in the 2018–19 season [94]
Date Event SP FS Total
P Score P Score P Score
Sep 12–16, 2018 Italy 2018 CS Lombardia Trophy 9 49.91 2 130.94 4 180.85
Oct 6, 2018 Japan 2018 Japan Open – – 2 130.28 1 –
Oct 19–21, 2018 United States 2018 Skate America 2 71.29 2 142.61 2 213.90
Nov 2–4, 2018 Finland 2018 Grand Prix of Helsinki 7 57.26 2 140.16 3 197.42
Dec 6–9, 2018 Canada 2018–19 Grand Prix Final 4 70.23 4 141.45 4 211.68
Dec 20–24, 2018 Japan 2018–19 Japan Championships 2 75.65 2 152.36 1 228.01
Feb 7–10, 2019 United States 2019 Four Continents Championships 2 73.36 4 133.43 4 206.79
Mar 18–24, 2019 Japan 2019 World Championships 2 76.86 5 145.97 5 222.83
Apr 11–14, 2019 Japan 2019 World Team Trophy 3 76.95 3 146.70 2 (3) 223.65
Results in the 2019–20 season [94]
Date Event SP FS Total
P Score P Score P Score
Sep 19–21, 2019 Slovakia 2019 CS Nepela Memorial 4 59.97 2 134.45 2 194.42
Oct 18–20, 2019 United States 2019 Skate America 2 73.25 4 129.22 4 202.47
Nov 1–3, 2019 France 2019 Internationaux de France 6 64.08 4 135.16 4 199.24
Dec 18–22, 2019 Japan 2019–20 Japan Championships 3 69.95 7 118.31 6 188.26
Feb 4–9, 2020 South Korea 2020 Four Continents Championships 4 73.07 8 129.72 5 202.79
Results in the 2020–21 season [94]
Date Event SP FS Total
P Score P Score P Score
Nov 27–29, 2020 Japan 2020 NHK Trophy 1 75.60 1 153.91 1 229.51
Dec 24–27, 2020 Japan 2020–21 Japan Championships 2 71.86 2 150.31 2 222.17
Mar 22–28, 2021 Sweden 2021 World Championships 6 70.38 5 137.42 6 207.80
Apr 15–18, 2021 Japan 2021 World Team Trophy 3 77.78 2 150.29 3 (2) 228.07
Results in the 2021–22 season [94]
Date Event SP FS Total
P Score P Score P Score
Oct 3, 2021 Japan 2021 Japan Open – – 4 133.26 2 –
Oct 13–17, 2021 China 2021 Asian Open Trophy 1 76.70 2 125.58 2 202.28
Oct 22–24, 2021 United States 2021 Skate America 4 71.16 3 144.77 4 215.93
Nov 12–14, 2021 Japan 2021 NHK Trophy 1 76.56 1 146.78 1 223.34
Dec 22–26, 2021 Japan 2021–22 Japan Championships 1 79.23 1 154.83 1 234.06
Feb 4–7, 2022 China 2022 Winter Olympics (Team event) – – 1 148.66 2 –
Feb 15–17, 2022 China 2022 Winter Olympics 2 79.84 3 153.29 3 233.13
Mar 21–27, 2022 France 2022 World Championships 1 80.32 1 155.77 1 236.09
Results in the 2022–23 season [94]
Date Event SP FS Total
P Score P Score P Score
Sep 16–19, 2022 Italy 2022 CS Lombardia Trophy 1 72.93 2 132.40 2 205.33
Oct 8, 2022 Japan 2022 Japan Open – – 1 146.66 1 –
Oct 21–23, 2022 United States 2022 Skate America 1 71.72 1 145.89 1 217.61
Nov 17–20, 2022 Japan 2022 NHK Trophy 2 68.07 1 133.80 2 201.87
Dec 8–11, 2022 Italy 2022–23 Grand Prix Final 1 75.86 6 116.70 5 192.56
Dec 21–25, 2022 Japan 2022–23 Japan Championships 1 77.79 1 155.26 1 233.05
Jan 13–15, 2023 United States 2023 Winter World University Games 1 78.40 2 139.02 2 217.42
Feb 23–26, 2023 Netherlands 2023 International Challenge Cup 1 76.85 1 151.50 1 228.35
Mar 20–26, 2023 Japan 2023 World Championships 1 79.24 2 145.37 1 224.61
Apr 13–16, 2023 Japan 2023 World Team Trophy 2 72.69 2 145.75 3 (2) 218.44
Results in the 2023–24 season [94]
Date Event SP FS Total
P Score P Score P Score
Sep 14–16, 2023 Canada 2023 CS Autumn Classic International 1 75.62 1 127.58 1 203.20
Oct 7, 2023 Japan 2023 Japan Open – – 1 149.59 1 –
October 27–29, 2023 Canada 2023 Skate Canada International 1 75.13 1 151.00 1 226.13
Nov 17–19, 2023 Finland 2023 Grand Prix of Espoo 1 69.69 1 135.52 1 205.21
Dec 7–10, 2023 China 2023–24 Grand Prix Final 1 77.35 1 148.35 1 225.70
Dec 20–24, 2023 Japan 2023–24 Japan Championships 1 78.78 1 154.34 1 233.12
Feb 22–25, 2024 Netherlands 2024 International Challenge Cup 2 67.76 1 144.67 1 212.43
Mar 18–24, 2024 Canada 2024 World Championships 4 73.29 1 149.67 1 222.96
Results in the 2024–25 season [94]
Date Event SP FS Total
P Score P Score P Score
Sep 13–15, 2024 Italy 2024 CS Lombardia Trophy 2 73.53 4 126.41 3 199.94
Oct 25–27, 2024 Canada 2024 Skate Canada International 1 74.97 2 126.24 1 201.21
Nov 8–10, 2024 Japan 2024 NHK Trophy 1 78.93 1 152.95 1 231.88

Junior level

[edit]
Sakamoto at the 2017 World Junior Championships
Sakamoto at the 2016–17 Junior Grand Prix Final
Sakamoto at the 2015 World Junior Championships
Results in the 2012–13 season [94]
Date Event SP FS Total
P Score P Score P Score
Nov 17–28, 2012 Japan 2012–13 Japan Junior Championships 13 46.56 7 92.96 9 139.52
Results in the 2013–14 season [94]
Date Event SP FS Total
P Score P Score P Score
Aug 8–11, 2013 Thailand 2013 Asian Open Trophy 1 53.20 1 102.28 1 155.48
Oct 2–5, 2013 Czech Republic 2013 JGP Czech Republic 7 52.80 6 93.69 6 146.49
Nov 22–24, 2013 Japan 2013–14 Japan Junior Championships 8 47.14 4 101.64 6 148.78
Dec 20–23, 2013 Japan 2013–14 Japan Senior Championships 9 56.29 16 95.56 15 151.85
Mar 14–16, 2014 Netherlands 2014 International Challenge Cup 1 54.98 2 98.89 1 153.87
Results in the 2014–15 season [94]
Date Event SP FS Total
P Score P Score P Score
Sep 11–14, 2014 Japan 2014 JGP Japan 6 52.70 7 93.46 7 146.16
Nov 22–24, 2014 Japan 2014–15 Japan Junior Championships 4 57.35 2 111.47 2 168.82
Dec 26–28, 2014 Japan 2014–15 Japan Senior Championships 7 57.81 6 109.65 6 167.46
Mar 2–8, 2015 Estonia 2015 World Junior Championships 4 58.72 6 107.53 6 166.25
Results in the 2015–16 season [94]
Date Event SP FS Total
P Score P Score P Score
Aug 2–5, 2015 Thailand 2015 Asian Open Trophy (S) 3 39.64 3 99.36 3 139.00
Aug 26–30, 2015 Latvia 2015 JGP Latvia 3 58.75 2 112.20 2 170.95
Sep 23–27, 2015 Poland 2015 JGP Poland 3 56.89 4 101.55 4 158.44
Nov 21–23, 2015 Japan 2015–16 Japan Junior Championships 5 58.96 6 111.76 5 170.72
Dec 24–27, 2015 Japan 2015–16 Japan Senior Championships 17 53.90 12 111.60 13 165.50
Feb 12–21, 2016 Norway 2016 Winter Youth Olympics 5 56.25 6 98.98 6 155.23
Results in the 2016–17 season [94]
Date Event SP FS Total
P Score P Score P Score
Aug 24–27, 2016 France 2016 JGP France 2 64.12 2 114.74 2 178.86
Sep 7–11, 2016 Japan 2016 JGP Japan 1 65.66 2 122.15 1 187.81
Nov 18–20, 2016 Japan 2016–17 Japan Junior Championships 1 67.45 1 124.52 1 191.97
Dec 8–11, 2016 France 2016–17 Junior Grand Prix Final 2 64.48 4 111.85 3 176.33
Dec 22–25, 2016 Japan 2016–17 Japan Senior Championships 6 63.36 9 120.64 7 184.00
Mar 13–19, 2017 Taiwan 2017 World Junior Championships 3 67.78 3 127.76 3 195.54

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ On 29 January 2024 CAS disqualified Valieva for four years retroactive to 25 December 2021 for an anti-doping rule violation. On 30 January 2024 the ISU reallocated medals to upgrade the United States to gold and Japan to silver while downgrading ROC to bronze.

References

[edit]
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[edit]

Media related to Kaori Sakamoto at Wikimedia Commons

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