Sakamoto Kaori registers personal best score to lead after women's short at 2022 World Championships

Sakamoto Kaori just couldn't contain herself.

As her 80.32 score popped up on the screen following her short program at the World Figure Skating Championships, the reigning Olympic bronze medallist jumped up from her seat in the 'Kiss and Cry,' overcome with excitement, and walked closer to the camera and monitor to make sure her eyes weren't deceiving her.

Sakamoto, the favourite in Montpellier this week, was not mistaken: She leads the women's singles event after the short program in the Sud de France Arena on Wednesday (23 March).

Her 80.32 is a personal best - and she's just the seventh woman in history to break the 80-point threshold in the segment.

The 21-year-old is trying to become just the fifth Japanese woman and first since Asada Mao in 2014 to win a world title.

Belgium's Loena Hendrickx was the final skater to compete in France, and registered a 75.00, herself bouncing in her seat as the score flashed up.

In the penultimate group, American Mariah Bell scored a personal best 72.55 to place inside the top three. She opted to do a triple flip-triple toe combination, something she said was a game-time decision.

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You Young of South Korea, the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) Lausanne 2020 champion, is fourth with a 72.08, while Alysa Liu of the U.S. is fifth at 71.91.

Nicole Schott (Germany), Higuchi Wakaba (Japan), and Karen Chen (USA) round out the top eight.

Sakamoto had claimed the bronze medal at last month's Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022.

Earlier this month, the International Skating Union announced that "no skaters belonging to the ISU Members in Russia and Belarus shall be invited or allowed to participate in international ice skating competitions," including the world championships.

Worlds marks the final major figure skating event of the long Olympic season.

Later on Wednesday, the pairs teams will take to the ice for the short program in the evening local time, starting at 1830. The women's free skate is set for Friday (25 March) starting at 1800 local.

Sakamoto: 'I'm over the moon right now'

With the absence of some of the top skaters in the world, including reigning Olympic and world champion Anna Shcherbakova, Sakamoto didn't put a foot wrong with her new status as favourite.

She took to the ice following Higuchi, and had command of her "Now We Are Free" short program from the start. She opened with a double Axel, then hit a triple Lutz and triple flip-triple toe-loop in combination, the combo earning +2.12 GOEs (Grade of Execution).

Her 37.07 Program Component scores (for artistry) were the highest of the day, as well.

"I’m over the moon right now," Sakamoto said after the short program. "I felt fast out there, jumps were good. I think everything worked out today. Winning a medal at the Olympics was my lifelong goal, so after achieving that, I didn’t know what to do. I was really confused. I wasn’t sure what I should be aiming for at these worlds."

She added: "Everyone was saying I should win gold here because the Russian skaters aren't here. I've felt better with each day. I was telling myself that it wasn't the result that counted, but [that] this it for the season - short or long skate. Right now the pressure is off and I’m just doing all that I can do. I’m 100 percent happy."

Hendrickx, 22, was nearly equally as happy, especially having managed a groin injury over the last several weeks since she finished in eighth place at Beijing 2022. She opened with a triple Lutz-triple toe combo, then added a double Axel and triple flip in her "Caruso" short program.

"I felt really confident on the ice - my jumps were there," the Belgian said. "With my injury, I performed my best I could. I'm really satisfied."

Bell, 25, is the first American woman to place in the top three at a worlds since Gracie Gold led the women's short in 2016. She didn't have a coach with her in the "Kiss and Cry," instead FaceTiming in coach Adam Rippon from afar while her scores came through.

"I couldn't be happier right now," a joyful Bell added. Earlier this week Bell penned an essay for Olympics.com about her Beijing experience. You can read it here.

Teenagers You, Liu knocking on podium's door

While both Sakamoto and Hendrickx have breathing room after the short, Bell, You and Liu are separated by just 0.64 points from third to fifth, and both You and Liu have a triple Axel in their pockets should they choose to use it in the free skate.

The much-talked-about jump, however, was nowhere to be seen in the women's short, however. Up to five skaters - You, Liu, Higuchi, Lee Haein (South Korea) and Kawabe Mana (Japan) - have a triple Axel in their respective repertoires, but none opted for the jump in the short.

Kawabe, who sits 12th, promised to use hers in the free: "I was landing the triple Axel in practice but didn’t think it was good enough to incorporate into the program today. I wanted to be sure, which is why I went with a double Axel. I’ll get [the triple] in for the free though."

Ekaterina Ryabova (Azerbaijan) and Madeline Schizas (Canada) rounded out the top 10, while Lee and Kawabe were 11th and 12th, respectively.

Fan favourite Josefin Taljegard (Sweden) qualified in 21st (only the top 24 of 33 skaters make the long program), while Poland's Ekaterina Kurakova also did so - in 16th.

Schizas, who was 13th in her debut at worlds last year, said she's aiming for a top 10 finish to help Canada secure a second spot at Worlds - with an eye on 2024, when Montreal is set to host.

Schizas also said she is working on adding a triple Axel herself, saying she'd like to be among the medal contenders at Milano Cortina 2026. 

"I want to start making inroads internationally... I'd really like to be gunning for a medal [in 2026]."