Sakamoto Kaori on cusp of back-to-back World Championship titles as podium chase is crowded in women's free skate: Preview
The reigning world champ and two-time Olympic medallist has a six-point lead headed into the free skate on Friday (24 March). Less than two points separate second through fifth place. What can Isabeau Levito do?
Figure Skating
Sakamoto Kaori is having fun.
And for the rest of the women's field at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships that is a very dangerous thing.
It's been a roller coaster season for the reigning world champion and Beijing 2022 bronze medallist, but the 22-year-old Japanese skater rocked the Saitama Super Arena on Wednesday (22 March) for the women's short program - and gave every indication she plans to do much the same in Friday's free skate.
"I want a perfect skate in the free," Sakamoto told Japanese reporters. "So I can have the last laugh."
And therein lies the danger: When Sakamoto is her free-spirited self, she's the outright best female figure skater in the world.
She takes a lead of 5.62 points (79.24 to 73.62) over Lee Hae-in of the Republic of Korea into the free skate, a lead that is safe yet no sure bet.
The podium race - and, mind you, race for gold - is crowded: While Lee is in second, just 1.66 separate her and Loena Hendrickx of Belgium who is in fifth (71.94).
Japan's Mihara Mai and American Isabeau Levito sit three-four. Levito did not attend Friday's (24 March) official practice, though in a statement, U.S. Figure Skating said it is part of her team's plan: "She's resting and conserving her energy."
As Sakamoto seeks to become the first woman to repeat as world champ since Evgenia Medvedeva did so in 2016-17, she has been mindful of 2019, when the World Championships were last held at this venue. It was then that she slipped from second to fifth after the short.
She said this week she's seeking "revenge" for that result.
Women's free skate: Who brings their best?
The stories are many in the women's event, including a confident Lee, who shocked many - including herself - when she captured gold at Four Continents last month.
Meanwhile, Mihara, at 23, has had a golden resurgence, capturing the Grand Prix Final title over Sakamoto.
And the short program leader isn't out of the woods yet, either: Sakamoto led after the short at the Final in December, only to come undone in the free and finish fifth.
It's the question that always lingers over any figure skating event: Which version of a skater shows up in the free skate when it really matters?
Reigning world silver medallist Hendrickx is looking to find her fiercest of forms in the free, the two-time Olympian having fallen on the backend of her triple Lutz-triple toe-loop combination in the short. She sits fifth.
Also to watch: Georgia's Anastasiia Gubanova, the European champion, who struggled to an 11th-place finish in the short (65.40).
Isabeau Levito: "I thrive" in this scenario
The 15-year-old American Levito is one to watch in the free, as well.
At Four Continents last month she withdrew last-minute from the free, her name called on the ice but was absent. Her team has clarified it was a cautionary move: She wasn't feeling well and didn't want to risk her health by skating.
Her aforementioned absence at Friday's practice is uncommon in skating but not unheard of.
The reigning world junior champion has skyrocketed onto the senior scene this season, with medals at all three of her Grand Prix events - and a first-ever U.S. title.
"I feel like it didn't jump straight from World Juniors to here," she said, reflecting on the last 12 months. "I've done my first international [event], then the Grand Prix [Series] and Grand Prix Final... it's slowly gotten bigger and bigger. It wasn't a big jump. It's gradually gotten to where I belong."
Does she belong on the podium? We'll find out on Friday night.
"I'm very excited for the free skate. Before going into the short program, I was a little nervous to see how it would feel competing here. I felt good, I skated good.
"I love this arena. I love how full of people [it is]. And I thrive under that."
Women's free skate; Schedule (24 March)
The women's free skate is set Friday night (24 March) at the Saitama Super Arena. Times listed are local JST. (GMT +9)
24 March - Women's free skate 1730 JST
The final two groups feature the top skaters from the short program. The penultimate group begins at 1935 local, followed by the final group at 2030.
See the full schedule here. Find out how to tune in to the action here.