Who is Kaori Sakamoto?
Where is Kaori Sakamoto from?
Kaori Sakamoto is from Kobe, Japan.
How old is Kaori Sakamoto in 2026?
Sakamoto was born on April 9, 2000, and will be 25 at the Milan Cortina Olympic Games.
When did Kaori Sakamoto start figure skating?
Sakamoto got into figure skating when she was 4 years old after seeing the sport on a TV show. Growing up, her favorite figure skater was Olympian Akiko Suzuki.
How did Kaori Sakamoto rise to fame in international skating?
As a junior skater, Sakamoto was competitive across national and international competitions. Her breakout 2016-17 season rocketed her to global stardom, and the following season she moved on to senior level competitions where she made an immediate impact. Since then, she has gone on to win three world championships, making her one of this generation’s most prolific skaters.
How many Olympics has Kaori Sakamoto competed in?
Sakamoto made her Olympic debut in 2018 at the PyeongChang Olympic Games. She followed up with another appearance at the 2022 Beijing Olympic Games.
Did Kaori Sakamoto win a medal at the 2018 PyeongChang or 2022 Beijing Olympics?
After finishing sixth in the singles competition in PyeongChang, Sakamoto returned with a vengeance in Beijing, helping Japan to a silver medal in the team competition and claiming a bronze medal in the singles event.
What makes Kaori Sakamoto’s skating style unique?
As a skater, Sakamoto’s strengths lie in her clean, technical ability and expressiveness on the ice.
Kaori Sakamoto’s Figure Skating Career
What is Kaori Sakamoto’s career timeline in figure skating?
2013: Sakamoto began competing in junior competitions at the national and international level, winning the Asian Open FS trophy
2015: Finished second at the junior national championships and third at the Asian Open. Also recorded a second-place finish at a junior Grand Prix and sixth at the World Junior Championships.
2016: Finished third at the ISU Junior Grand Prix Final and sixth at the Winter Youth Olympic Games.
2017: Won her first junior nationals and finished third at the World Junior Championships, moving to senior competitions
2018: Made Olympic debut and finished sixth in PyeongChang. Finished second at senior nationals and won the ISU Four Continents Championship.
2019: Won first national title
2022: Won first world championship title, taking home the team silver medal and singles bronze medal at the Beijing Olympics
2023, 2024: Three-peated as world champion
2025: Secured fourth-straight national championship, finishing runner up at worlds
How many Japanese national titles has Kaori Sakamoto won?
With her win at the 2025 Japanese national championships, Sakamoto has won five national titles.
How many world championships has Kaori Sakamoto won?
Sakamoto has won three world championship titles, dominating the competition from 2022-2024.
Kaori Sakamoto’s Road to 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics
Will Kaori Sakamoto compete at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics?
While Sakamoto officially has not qualified for the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympic Games, she is a favorite to make the Japanese national team after winning her fourth-straight national title.
Could Kaori Sakamoto win another Olympic medal in 2026?
Sakamoto remains one of the best skaters in the world and will be one of the favorites to win a medal at the Milan Cortina Games. She will enter the competition coming off a second-place finish at the 2025 World Championships.
How is Kaori Sakamoto performing in the 2025–26 figure skating season?
Sakamoto kicked off her 2025-26 season with a second-place finish at the Grand Prix de France, finishing just under three points behind her Japanese teammate, Ami Nakai.
What programs and music is Kaori Sakamoto preparing for Milan Cortina?
Sakamoto has unveiled her music choices for both her short program and free skate for the 2025-26 season. For her short program, Sakamoto has chosen the song “Time to Say Goodbye,” tying into her announcement that the season would be her final on the circuit. For her free skate program, Sakamoto chose a medley of French songs, including “L’Hymne a l’amour.”
What challenges could Kaori Sakamoto face at the 2026 Olympics?
While Sakamoto remains one of the best in the world, she will face tough competition from a handful of familiar opponents, including Americans Alysa Liu and Isabeau Levito and South Korea’s Kim Chae-yeon. She also will face Russia’s Adelia Petrosian, who will be competing under a neutral banner.
How important would another Olympic medal be for Kaori Sakamoto’s career and legacy?
While Sakamoto already has solidified her status as a figure skating great, she has yet to win an Olympic title. Another Olympic medal would be an amazing exclamation point on Sakamoto’s career, as she has announced her plan to retire after the 2026 Olympic Games.
Kaori Sakamoto in Competitions
What are Kaori Sakamoto’s biggest career highlights in figure skating?
There are not many accolades that Sakamoto has yet to achieve in competitive figure skating. However, some of her biggest accomplishments include her two Olympic medals, her three world titles, and her perfect 2023-24 season.
How many Grand Prix medals has Kaori Sakamoto won?
Throughout her career, Sakamoto has secured seven Grand Prix wins, as well as one Grand Prix Final victory.
What medals has Kaori Sakamoto earned at the world championships?
In addition to her three-consecutive world titles, Sakamoto also has one silver world championship medal, which she earned at the 2025 competition.
How does Kaori Sakamoto rank in ISU World Standings?
Sakamoto enters the 2025-26 season as the top-ranked skater in the world, according to the ISU. She nearly is 1000 points clear of Japanese teammate Mone Chiba.
Has Kaori Sakamoto set any records for consistency at major events?
Sakamoto made history as the first woman to win three consecutive world championship titles since American Peggy Fleming accomplished the feat back in 1966-68. Her three titles also tied the record for most wins by a Japanese woman. Sakamoto showed off her consistency during the 2023-24 season, winning seven out of seven competitions.
Kaori Sakamoto Fun Facts and Personal Life
What skate brand and costumes does Kaori Sakamoto use?
Sakamoto uses skates made by Edea, with her go-to skate being the company’s Ice Fly model. For her costumes, Sakamoto has worn outfits designed by Lisa McKinnon and others.
How many followers does Kaori Sakamoto have on Instagram?
Sakamoto seemingly does not have a personal Instagram account, though there are several fan accounts dedicated to following her career. She also is featured on the Sysmex figure skating team account.
What are Kaori Sakamoto’s hobbies outside skating?
Outside figure skating, Sakamoto enjoys watching movies and going for drives. She also enjoys being creative, particularly painting or doing handicrafts.
Has Kaori Sakamoto been featured in documentaries, interviews, or TV specials?
While Sakamoto has been featured in several short form video projects and interviews, her largest media project was the 2022 documentary Creation of the 2022 Free Skate Program, which followed her process to choreograph her bronze-medal performance.
What are some fun facts about Kaori Sakamoto’s journey and personality?
- When she began competing in figure skating, Sakamoto often was criticized for not being expressive enough and often relied on her jumps and technical elements to boost her scores. However, as she grew, she became more expressive in her skating, and it is now considered one of her major advantages.
- While maintaining her schedule as a full-time professional athlete, Sakamoto attended classes remotely at Kobe Gakuin University where she graduated with a degree in economics
- Despite being one of the best skaters in the world, Sakamoto still gets so nervous before competitions that her legs shake. Once she retires, she has plans to become a figure skating coach.