Kaori Sakamoto Bids Farewell to Figure Skating After Milano-Cortina Olympics

Three-time world figure skating champion Kaori Sakamoto announces her retirement plans. The Japanese athlete will retire after the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics, citing age as a reason. Sakamoto won three consecutive world titles, a feat last achieved by American Peggy Fleming in the 1960s.

Kaori Sakamoto, the celebrated three-time world figure skating champion from Japan, has announced her retirement following the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics. The 25-year-old athlete shared her decision with reporters in Kobe, marking the end of a remarkable era in figure skating.

Sakamoto made history last year as the first woman in 56 years to clinch the world singles title three times consecutively, an achievement only previously accomplished by Peggy Fleming between 1966 and 1968. Sakamoto mentioned that she plans to conclude her illustrious career in the year she turns 26.

The athlete, who also secured a bronze medal at the 2022 Winter Olympics, expressed that competing at the age of 29 for a subsequent Olympics was improbable. Sakamoto narrowly missed a fourth consecutive world title in March, finishing second to American skater Alysa Liu.