“It feels right to conclude my career at 26.” Kaori Sakamoto announces retirement at the end of the Olympic season
Kaori Sakamoto announces retirement at the end of the Milano-Cortina Olympic season.
original source: Nikkansports dd. June 20th 2025 by Matsumoto Wataru
Kaori Sakamoto (25) announced on June 20 that she will retire from competitive skating after the upcoming 2025-26 Milano-Cortina Olympic season. Here’s a translation of her comments.
Sakamoto made the announcement during the opening ceremony of a new year-round ice rink – Sysmex Kobe Ice Campus – in Kobe, her hometown. She participated in the ceremony alongside fellow skaters Mai Mihara, Tatsuya Tsuboi, and Saki Miyake, performing exhibition routines to mark the occasion.
Speaking about her decision, Sakamoto explained: “My career in competitive skating has less than a year remaining. Extending it for two or three years would feel unfinished. This way, I can end on a clean note. If I were to aim for the next four-year cycle leading to the 2030 Olympics, I’d be 29 – so it feels right to conclude my career at 26.”
As she enters her retirement year, the newly opened Kobe rink will serve as her home base and a symbol of her final season’s significance. Sakamoto has long envisioned a post-competition career as a coach, making this new facility an essential part of her transition.
Reflecting on her final season, Sakamoto emphasized her gratitude for the support that helped bring the new rink to life and her commitment to delivering results worthy of such an ideal training environment:
“This rink provides the absolute best conditions. If I don’t produce results, I’ll feel terrible – like I’ve let everyone down. So many people supported the creation of this facility, so I feel truly ready for the Olympics. The rest is up to me.”
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