Kaori Sakamoto: “I wasn’t especially talented or able to do everything easily. Now people say, ‘Kaori is known for her 2A,’ but it actually took me two years to master it. I want to tell kids not to give up just because they can’t do something right away.”
Kaori Sakamoto held her retirement press conference in Kobe, expressing deep gratitude for her supporters and reflecting on her record-setting figure skating career as she prepares to become a coach.
original source: Nikkansports 13th May 2026 / Nikkansports 13th May / Nikkansports 13th May
Kaori Sakamoto (26) held her retirement press conference on the 13th in her hometown of Kobe. Kaori reflected on her decision to make her last four years her final Olympic cycle, her approach to competition, and her plans to inspire others as a coach and performer in her post-competitive career. Here’s a translation of her comments posted on Nikkansports.
At the start of the press conference, a video featuring past photos and messages from her coaches and others was played, bringing her to tears early on. “The letters from my coaches really got to me. There was one from my mother, too,” she said.
She continued, “Today, I hope to express my gratitude for everything up to now. Thank you all for being here.”
“I had already made up my mind that these four years would be my last, even as I said I was aiming for another four,” Sakamoto revealed.
“If I had to sum up the Olympics in one word, it would be ‘defense.’ I was so focused on not making mistakes that, over three Games, I couldn’t go all out, so I think it was more about playing it safe,” she analyzed, hinting at the unique challenges of performing on the world’s biggest stage.
At the same time, she said her days as a competitive skater remain special. “Those were irreplaceable times. The process of being scolded by my coach and thinking, ‘I’ll show you!’ – that’s something you can only experience then. Now, I feel like something’s missing,” she said with a smile.
Known for her cheerful and approachable personality, Sakamoto was beloved by skaters and fans alike. Going forward, she will begin her second career as a coach under Sonoko Nakano (73), who has supported her since she was four years old. “As long as I’m still able, I plan to appear in ice shows and teach classes, hoping to create opportunities for people to discover skating,” she shared about her future ambitions.
Kaori spoke about her ideals as a coach and the messages she wants to pass on to the next generation.
Sakamoto mentioned her longtime coach, Sonoko Nakano (73), who has supported her since she was four years old, saying with a smile, “To put it simply, I want to be a coach like Ms. Nakano.” She added, “I hope to teach not just technical skills, but also aspects of character and humanity.” Acknowledging that she still has areas to improve, she said, “I’m sure I’ll continue to learn from Ms. Nakano, so I want to keep absorbing as much as I can,” expressing her gratitude to her mentor.
When asked what she wants to tell children, Sakamoto spoke passionately from her own experience. “I wasn’t especially talented or able to do everything easily,” she recalled. “Now people say, ‘Kaori Sakamoto is known for her double axel,’ but it actually took me about two years to master it.” She explained that she learned through trial and error, with help from those who could do it. “I want to tell kids not to give up just because they can’t do something right away. No matter what others say, if you want to win, you just have to give it your all,” she emphasized.
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