Kaori Sakamoto: “Yes, I want gold. I want gold so badly. I already have silver and bronze, so I need gold. I thought, ‘Losing is this frustrating? I never want to lose again.’ I want to win. I hate losing.”
The Road to Gold: Kaori Sakamoto’s Final Olympic Journey Begins
original source: news.yahoo.co.jp dd. October 17th, 2025
In an interview with TV Asahi’s sports program GET SPORTS, Sakamoto shared her thoughts on the season, her aspirations, and the legacy she wishes to leave behind. Here’s a translation of her comments.
In June 2025, during a skating rink opening, Sakamoto openly discussed her decision to retire. She reflected, saying, “My competitive career has less than a year left. Instead of continuing halfway for two or three years, it feels better to conclude at this point. Looking ahead at another four years, I’d be 29, and realistically, I don’t see it being possible. That’s why I decided to mark my 26th year as the point to step away.”
Sakamoto already has impressive accolades, including a bronze medal in the individual event and silver in the team event at the Beijing Olympics in 2022, along with a historic three consecutive World Championship titles. However, Olympic gold is something she has yet to obtain.
Last season brought unexpected struggles. She suffered a defeat at the Grand Prix Final and narrowly missed gold at the World Championships, where she shed unrestrained tears of frustration.
When asked about her Olympic ambitions during the offseason, she gave a modest answer: “If I manage silver or higher, whether in the team or individual event, I’d feel like I’ve achieved my goals.” But in her interview with GET SPORTS, she revealed her deeper motivation: “After graduating from university, I was fully ready to retire. But winning an unexpected medal at the Beijing Olympics made me immensely want a team gold medal. That’s where my decision to continue competing sparked. Pursuing Olympic gold has been fueled by my previous podium finishes.”
While Sakamoto admitted her goal of silver felt more realistic, when asked directly about her desire for gold, her composure shifted. “Yes, I want gold. I want gold so badly. I already have silver and bronze, so I need gold. I thought, ‘Losing is this frustrating? I never want to lose again.’ I want to win. I hate losing.”
Related topics: Kaori Sakamoto
Leave a Reply