Kaori Sakamoto is a Japanese figure skater competing in the women’s singles discipline and is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished athletes of her generation. Born on April 9, 2000, in Kobe, Hyōgo Prefecture, she is known for her powerful skating, exceptional speed, deep edge quality, and remarkable consistency under pressure. Over the course of her career, Kaori Sakamoto has captured multiple World Championship titles and Olympic medals, establishing herself as a leading figure in international figure skating.

Early Life and Development

Kaori Sakamoto began skating at the age of four after watching figure skating on television. Inspired by what she saw, she entered the sport at a young age and quickly demonstrated natural athletic ability. She trained at the Sysmex Kobe club under the guidance of Sonoko Nakano, Mitsuko Graham, and Sei Kawahara, developing a technical foundation that emphasized strong edges, flow, and jump efficiency.

She attended Nagisa Junior High School before graduating from Kobe Noda High School in 2019. Balancing academics and elite sport, Kaori Sakamoto later graduated from Kobe Gakuin University’s Faculty of Economics in 2023. Her structured educational path ran parallel to her rapid rise in competitive skating.

Junior Career and Early Recognition

In the 2012–2013 season, Kaori Sakamoto won the gold medal at the Japan Novice Championships and placed ninth at the Japan Junior Championships. That same year, she was invited to perform in the gala exhibition at the World Team Trophy in Figure Skating, signaling early national recognition.

As a junior competitor, she attracted international attention due to her athletic jumping technique and dynamic performance quality. She earned the bronze medal at the World Junior Figure Skating Championships in 2017 and secured bronze at the 2016–17 Junior Grand Prix Final. Her seamless transition from junior to senior competition would soon define the next phase of her career.

Senior Breakthrough and Olympic Debut

Kaori Sakamoto moved into the senior ranks during the 2017–18 season. She immediately made an impact by winning the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in 2018. Shortly afterward, she made her Olympic debut at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics in South Korea, finishing sixth in the women’s singles event.

In 2019, she won her first Japanese national title, solidifying her status among Japan’s elite skaters. Her rise came during a highly competitive era in Japanese women’s figure skating, previously shaped by icons such as Mao Asada.

Beijing 2022 and Global Ascendancy

The defining turning point in Kaori Sakamoto’s career came during the 2021–2022 season. At the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, she captured the bronze medal in the women’s singles competition. Additionally, she contributed significantly to Japan’s silver medal in the team event, confirming her role as a cornerstone of the national squad.

Shortly after the Olympics, she won her first title at the World Figure Skating Championships in 2022. During that event, she achieved personal best scores in both the free skate and total score, marking the beginning of an extraordinary championship streak.

Three Consecutive World Titles

Kaori Sakamoto defended her world titles in 2023 in Saitama, Japan, and again in 2024 in Montreal, becoming a three-time consecutive World Champion (2022–2024). Her 2023–24 season was particularly dominant, as she went undefeated in international competition and secured victory at the ISU Grand Prix Final, thereby completing gold medals across all major ISU championship events.

Her achievement made her the first Japanese skater to win three consecutive World titles in any discipline. She also became the first woman since Peggy Fleming (1966–1968) to win three consecutive World Championships. Furthermore, she was the first Japanese woman to win the World title since Mao Asada in 2014.

In 2025, she added a World silver medal and another Japanese national title to her record. At the 2026 Winter Olympics, she played a decisive role in securing Japan’s team silver medal, further extending her Olympic résumé.

Major Titles and Career Achievements

Kaori Sakamoto’s achievements include:

• Olympic bronze medalist (2022, Women’s Singles)
• Two-time Olympic team silver medalist (2022, 2026)
• Three-time World Champion (2022–2024)
• World silver medalist (2025)
• 2018 Four Continents Champion
• 2023–24 Grand Prix Final Champion
• Two-time Grand Prix Final bronze medalist
• Thirteen-time ISU Grand Prix medalist
• 2025 Asian Winter Games silver medalist
• 2023 Winter World University Games silver medalist
• Six-time Japanese National Champion

In August 2023, she was awarded the Kobe City Sports Special Award in recognition of her World Championship successes.

Skating Style and Legacy

Kaori Sakamoto is widely praised for her endurance, composure, and competitive determination. Her skating is characterized by exceptional speed across the ice, strong edge control, explosive jump takeoffs, and powerful free skate performances. Unlike many technically focused skaters, she combines athletic strength with expressive choreography, creating programs that are both technically reliable and artistically commanding.

Throughout her career, Kaori Sakamoto has been admired not only for her medal record but also for her calm demeanor and resilience in high-pressure moments. As a three-time World Champion and Olympic medalist, she continues to represent Japan at the highest level while serving as an inspiration for the next generation of figure skaters.

Source: Biyografiler.com