Kaori Sakamoto, the two-time Olympic medalist and pioneer for Japanese women’s figure skating, held a tearful retirement press conference in her hometown of Kobe on May 13. Dressed in an all-white ensemble, the 26-year-old Sisimex athlete became emotional while watching a tribute video played at the start of the event.
Reflecting on her career, Sakamoto described her time as an active skater as “youth,” saying, “During my competitive years, I was moved by so many emotions during practice and competitions, feeling joy and disappointment with each result. Now, looking back objectively, I realize that giving my all in training was truly a youthful experience.”
Having competed in three Olympics and won a total of four medals across singles and team events, Sakamoto dominated the women’s scene for years. Her crowning achievement came at the March World Championships following the Milan-Cortina Olympics, where she captured her fourth title—the most by any Japanese skater. She revealed that she had decided to retire after the Beijing Olympics four years ago, adding, “I had already accepted that these past four years would be my last, so I was mentally prepared.”
Known for her signature smile, Sakamoto beamed as she stated, “I smile because I genuinely enjoy the moment.” Moving forward, she plans to pursue coaching under her longtime mentor, Sonoko Nakano. “There are still aspects of my character that need polishing. I believe I still have much to learn from Nakano-sensei, so I want to absorb everything. Eventually I will focus on coaching full-time, but while I’m still active physically, I intend to perform in ice shows and lead skating classes,” she said, expressing her commitment to promoting the sport.
