Kaori Sakamoto: “I’m relieved that all my jumps were satisfactory. If I make even one mistake, things can fall apart.”
Kaori Sakamoto leads the short program at the NHK Trophy Grand Prix event with a season-best score, aiming for a strong finish in her final competitive season.
original source: Nikkansports, November 7th 2025 by Fujitsuka Daisuke
Kaori Sakamoto (25) competed in her second Grand Prix event of the season and started in first place in the short program with a season-best score of 77.05 points. Here’s a translation of her comments posted on Nikkansports.
Smiling with satisfaction as she left the ice, she nodded and said, “I was able to perform calmly, in my own style.”
Sakamoto successfully landed all three of her jumps, starting with a triple Lutz. “I’m relieved that all my jumps were satisfactory,” she said, patting her chest in relief.
She admitted that she felt “maximum nerves” on this day, to the point where she couldn’t eat lunch. “I felt like I was going to be sick,” she said, but also recognized, “I perform better when I’m nervous.” By accepting her usual nerves – “I’m as nervous as always. That’s good, that’s good” – she was able to dispel her anxiety. “Once the competition started, I was calm. It felt just like regular practice.” She improved her score by 0.85 points compared to her second-place finish at the first Grand Prix event in France.
The former world champion, who has announced her retirement at the end of this season, scored a total of 224.23 points and placed second at the first event in France. Despite achieving a high score at a European competition, which she considers her “weak point,” she commented, “I was able to accomplish my goals for this event,” but also admitted feeling conflicted about finishing behind 17-year-old Ami Nakai, saying, “There’s some frustration, too.”
Looking ahead to the free skate, she said, “If I make even one mistake, things can fall apart. I’ll stay focused until the end and not get overconfident.”
Related topics: Kaori Sakamoto, NHK Trophy
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