World Figure Skating Championships: Sakamoto Kaori secures three-peat; becomes first woman in 56 years to do so
The Japanese star rallied from fourth after the short program, becoming the first woman to go back-to-back-to-back since Peggy Fleming (1966-68). Isabeau Levito, Kim Chae-yeon claimed medals, too.
Figure Skating
For the first time since 1968, the World Figure Skating Championships has a back-to-back-to-back women's singles champion.
Two-time and reigning gold medallist Sakamoto Kaori rallied from fourth place in the short program to lay claim to the world title for a third straight year, becoming the first since the great Peggy Fleming (1966-68), a 56-year gap.
The Japanese star did it with her blend of smooth yet attacking skating, hitting a 149.67 in the free skate to claim a 10-point win over American teenager Isabeau Levito, who won silver, 222.96 to 212.16.
The crowd roared to its feet at the Bell Centre in Montreal as Sakamoto finished, her free skate outpacing Levito's by some 11 points.
"I was fourth in the short program, so I was a little anxious about that, but today I was in a really good place emotionally," Sakamoto, 23, said. "I was able to calm down today. I was able to keep focused and do my elements one after the other and I am happy with this result."
Sakamoto completes an undefeated season in 2023-24, the 2022 Olympic bronze medallist sweeping the Grand Prix Series and claiming a fourth Japanese national title, as well.
Kim Chae-yeon of the Republic of Korea took bronze with a 203.59, after short program leaders Loena Hendrickx of Belgium and Lee Haein of the Republic of Korea faltered to fourth and sixth, respectively.
Sakamoto emerges from roller-coaster free skate
Since winning her first world title in 2022, Sakamoto has become the world's top skater, consistently skating in the penultimate or last position in the final group of the women's free skate.
She did not face that same scenario in Montreal, skating with still Levito, Hendrickx and Lee to remain because of her fourth-place performance in the short program.
But it seemed to work: She started confidently with a smooth double Axel, then went from one jump to the next, managing a triple Lutz and looking clean on a triple Salchow.
Her Lauryn Hill medley built as she earned a Level 4 (the highest) on her change combination spin, then lured the crowd in with her step sequence. Sakamoto was finally in her element, hitting three separate combinations before landing a final triple loop.
"After my triple-triple combination, the roar of the crowd was very loud," she explained of her triple flip-triple toe-loop combo. "I told myself, 'If I ride this excitement, I will be spinning my wheels,' so I tried to keep myself calm until the very end.
"At the end, after my spin, I could let it all out and say, 'Yes! I did it.'"
She did it, indeed, with none of Hendrickx, Levito or Lee able to bypass her, though the American withstood the moment the best, bouncing back from her unravelling in a similar position at the U.S. Championships in January.
"I am really proud of myself and my team of coaches," the 17-year-old said. "We worked hard and consistent; I feel like we deserve this medal at the World Championships.
She added about her shocked face as she finished: "I was in a little bit of disbelief after, but I was just really happy."
Kim wins South Korea its second consecutive women's medal at Worlds after Lee's silver last year. The 17-year-old had a breakout season, claiming a Grand Prix medal (Skate Canada), silver at Four Continents and her first national medal.
"I went into the free skate without too much pressure," said Kim, who was sixth after the short. "I was still very nervous. I'm very surprised about it. It doesn't feel real, but I'm very happy about it."
Short program leader Hendrickx falls flat: 'I wasn't confident'
It would be the biggest title of Hendrickx's career after the Belgian finished second at Worlds in 2022 and third last season.
But she never looked fully confident, and that came to bite her midway through the program when she popped her triple Lutz attempt into a double on her combination, then fell on the opposite end of the rink on her triple flip.
She managed to fight through a triple Salchow-double toe-double loop, but the damage had been done as she mustered few GOEs (Grades of Execution) on her final two spins and step sequence, her finishing pose at the boards in front of the judges looking more deflated than triumphant.
"I know I can do better," Hendrickx said after. "I wasn’t confident enough since I haven’t completed a full run of my free program since Europeans due to injuries. It was nervewracking going into the free program as the leader."
There'd be little joy for Lee, who skated last, the reigning world silver medallist struggling on her opening double Axel-triple toe combination and then popping her Lutz on her next combination, unable to summon the brilliance she had shown in the short program.
There was, however, brilliance from Switzerland's Kimmy Repond, who soared from 12th to finish fifth with a 196.02, a career best. The same went for Japan's Chiba Mone, who was fifth in the free to finish seventh overall.