Sakamoto Kaori exclusive: Why I am doing things the hard way
Now is the time to sacrifice for the two-time Olympic medallist and three-time world champion, with hope the rewards will come at Milano Cortina 2026.
Figure Skating
Sakamoto Kaori doesn’t mind doing things the hard way.
Take last month’s Skate Canada for example. Skating to her new music for this season All that Jazz, Sakamoto didn’t exactly floor the crowd like Roxie Hart, falling twice in her first Grand Prix competition of 2024-25.
Yet she still won, leading a Japanese podium sweep with Matsuike Rino and Yoshida Hana. By her own admission, Sakamoto was far from pretty but that’s OK - for now, anyway.
“When things go too well, I have a habit of getting carried away,” the defending three-time world and national champion told Olympics.com in Halifax, Nova Scotia, following her sixth career Grand Prix victory.
“When I fail, I realise the situation isn’t good enough and from there I change my approach, how I practise and I keep at it until I feel comfortable.
“That’s when I start to compete better. So it’s on me to make my struggles here count for something.”
Sakamoto Kaori: Road to Mliano Cortina 'will be a blur'
After a season of dominance in which she won every competition she entered including her first Grand Prix Final crown, Sakamoto appears to be right where she wants to be.
Having won every title that there is to be won, the 24-year-old is under no pressure to chase anything. A fourth consecutive world championship rides on this season for Sakamoto - who would be the first female skater to accomplish the feat since Carol Heiss won five straight from 1956 to 1960 - but that would be cherry on top of the cake. Her credentials as the top existing female skater on the planet have already been issued.
The only thing missing from her trophy cabinet is an Olympic gold medal which, of course, she will try to win at the Milano Cortina 2026 Games, where she can complete the set with her silver (team) and bronze (singles) from Beijing 2022.
“It’s been three years since the Beijing Olympics and now we’re in the pre-season for the Milano Olympics,” Sakamoto said, never lacking a smile throughout the conversation. “Hard to believe it’s so close. It flew by, faster than I expected.
“I just have to pick it up from here. The next 15 months will be a blur. When it’s all said and done I want to be happy so I have to give it everything I have.”
As evidenced by her performance at Skate Canada, Sakamoto has yet to find her comfort zone with her new skating music, Resurrección del Ángel/La muerte del Ángel in the short and the theme music to Chicago in the free (hence the bleached hair).
For the free skate, Sakamoto is working with Marie-France Dubreuil for the third straight year. The tune of choice is a stark contrast to the Lauryn Hill medley and Elastic Heart by Sia they used the last two seasons.
Will Sakamoto peel a new layer to her skating? Or be forced to go back to her tried and trusted arsenal that won her an avalanche of silverware?
It remains to be seen but whatever challenges lie ahead, Sakamoto is up for it. Because she knows hardship builds character - and the steps to the top of the podium at Milano Cortina.
“The tango - I thought the quick steps in the short, I might have a harder time with because of my age but there’s a lot of cool choreography so I really try to make it work.
“And little by little, I become sharper and get better at it. My friend I practise with said, ‘Kaori, I didn’t know you could move like that.’ I was able to find out I still had it.
“With Chicago, I always feel like I can identify better with a musical or a movie - something with a story behind it. Emotionally, I’m more drawn to it. But the more I do it, I’m able to figure out what I want to do - and how.
“There will always be an aspect that is really difficult to overcome. Sometimes you feel like you can’t breathe. But when you finally do, it leads to a feeling you will never forget and a confidence that you can bank on during competitions.
“It’s a sign you’ve become stronger once more.”