Kaori Sakamoto: “If I don’t take risks, I can’t skate in a way that truly feels like me.”
Kaori Sakamoto about upcoming World Championships.
original source: Nikkansports dd. March 26th 2025
Kaori Sakamoto (24), who is aiming for a historic fourth consecutive victory in the women’s event — something that hasn’t been achieved in 66 years — took part in official practice at the competition venue. Here’s a translation of her comments posted on Nikkansports.
Although she admitted to feeling more uncertainty about her SP compared to her free skate, her practice was clean with a successfully landed a double axel, a triple Lutz, and a triple-triple combination and said, “It clicked into place, so I’m relieved.”
Earlier this season, Sakamoto emphasized focusing on the quality of her performances. However, after achieving her fourth consecutive national title at the Japan Nationals late last year, she realized, “If I don’t take risks, I can’t skate in a way that truly feels like me.” Turning her attention to results, she came to understand that doing so helps her deliver her best performances. “By achieving solid results at the World Championships, I can carry that momentum forward. I’m approaching this as an opportunity to build beyond my initial goals,” she expressed, aiming for victory.
This competition also determines the number of spots for Japanese women for next February’s Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, with competitors vying for a maximum of three spots. To secure them, the combined placements of the top two Japanese skaters must total 13 or lower. Showing confidence in her teammates, Sakamoto said, “As long as everyone performs well, we’ll be fine. I feel reassured within myself.”
Related topics: Kaori Sakamoto, world championship
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