Japan Figure Skating Championships 2024: Classy Sakamoto Kaori sits in first ahead of free skate
The three-time defending national champion holds off junior queen Shimada Mao and Chiba Mone in the short program in Osaka.
Figure Skating
Sakamoto Kaori was a cut above the rest of the women’s singles field as the three-time defending champion breezed to a 78.92 for the short-program lead at the Japan Figure Skating Championships on Friday (20 December) in Osaka.
The three-time world champion held off three-time Junior Grand Prix Final champion Shimada Mao (75.58) and senior GP Final runner-up Chiba Mone (74.72) to head into Sunday’s free skate with the advantage.
Only seven points separated the skaters from second to ninth place. A fifth national title might be for Sakamoto’s to lose now, but everything else appears to be up for grabs.
“I didn’t make a mistake tonight,” Sakamoto said. “That’s the biggest thing, that I didn’t mess up. I can exhale now.”
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Sakamoto Kaori: 'I just had to be aggressive'
After settling for bronze behind Chiba and winner Amber Glenn at the GP Final in Grenoble, France, two weeks ago, Sakamoto was struggling from gastroenteritis and physically hit rock bottom.
The 24-year-old managed to rebound in time for the nationals. While sidelined, she not only recovered physically but also reminded herself of who she was - the world’s best female singles skater who, when she put her mind to it, won every meet she entered last season.
“I was locked in. I wasn’t as insecure as I was for the Final, more confident,” Sakamoto said. “I’m getting closer and closer to my PB (80.32) which makes me really happy, but there’s still plenty of ground I can make up. Knowing I have room for improvement makes all this worthwhile.
“I’ve come to realise I skate better when I go for it and that’s something I figured out by competing in all kinds of events. And I had to remind myself this during the period from the Final to the nationals.
“I just had to be aggressive.”
Shimada is in the midst of another dominant campaign, having won the junior nationals on top of her Junior GP Final triumph.
The 16-year-old finished third at the senior nationals the last two seasons and should Shimada top the podium, she will become the first junior champion in 21 years (Ando Miki, 2003).
“I was determined to get it done today,” Shimada said. “I had a few concerns but I tried to block it out. Not think about the past and focus on the skate.
“I look at this as more of a stop than a competition I want to win. I hope I can skate with self-belief.”