Kaori Sakamoto: “Amber, Loena, Wakaba, and Mai too. It’s really great to see skaters in their mid-twenties competing well in international competitions. Seeing people close to my age pushing hard motivates me to keep trying myself.”
Kaori Sakamoto about level of competition and her goals.
original source: number.bunshun.jp dd. 15th December 2024 by Yoshie Noguchi
In the interview posted on Sports Graphic Number Web, Kaori Sakamoto talks about her competitors and shares her goals. Here’s a translation of her comments.
As the years add up, Sakamoto admitted that she felt the difficulty in maintaining condition during this competitions. When asked if this meant the junior women were stronger, she answered, “In this instance, the junior women’s champion (Mao Shimada) scored higher in the short program. However, in the free skate, senior skaters have an advantage due to the components they have built up over time, such as skating skills and expression. In the short program, because it is packed with technical elements, the gap between senior and junior competitors is smaller, but in the free skate, with the addition of steps and choreography, seniors indeed can create a difference.”
She also emphasized the strengths that come with aging. She then began to talk about 25-year-old Amber Glenn (USA), GP Final winner who landed a triple Axel in her 10th year as a senior. “I competed with her at the Lombardia Trophy in September and was surprised when she mentioned that it was her first international competition win. ‘I wanted a gold medal, why is it a trophy?’ she exclaimed, laughing. Then the Grand Prix series started, and her performances were consistent, and I thought she’d definitely make it to the GP Final, and she won. It really shows that the momentum and resilience she has are due to her age and experience.”
“Amber, Loena, (Wakaba) Higuchi, and (Mai) Mihara too. It’s really great to see skaters in their mid-twenties competing well in international competitions. As you age, you increasingly encounter competitions where you’re not mentally engaged, or your condition isn’t good. Seeing people close to my age pushing hard motivates me to keep trying myself,” said Kaori.
At 24, feeling both mental and physical changes, she remains calm and strategizes for her third pre-Olympic season, saying “Continually competing is really tough. But I’m fortunate — I haven’t had major injuries, and my personality has saved me in many ways. That’s why I can maintain my competitive spirit and continue in the sport. Considering taking a rest this season truly shows everyone is seriously aiming for the Olympics. Next season is crucial. I really want to focus on the Olympics (ahead).”
Related topics: Amber Glenn, Kaori Sakamoto, Loena Hendrickx, Mai Mihara, Wakaba Higuchi
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