Kaori Sakamoto facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kaori Sakamoto
Sakamoto during a practice session at the 2026 Winter Olympics
Personal information
Native name	坂本花織
Country represented	Japan
Born	(2000-04-09) April 9, 2000 (age 25) Kobe, Japan
Height	1.59 m
Coach	Sonoko Nakano Mitsuko Graham Sei Kawahara
Skating club	Sysmex Kobe
Began skating	2004
Retired	March 27, 2026

Kaori Sakamoto (坂本花織, Sakamoto Kaori, born April 9, 2000) is a famous Japanese figure skater who retired on March 27, 2026. She is known for her amazing skills on the ice. Kaori won a silver medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics and a bronze medal at the 2022 Olympics. She also helped her team win silver medals in the Olympic team event in both 2022 and 2026.

Kaori is a four-time World champion, winning in 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2026. She also earned a silver medal at the 2025 World Championships. She was the 2018 Four Continents champion and the 2023–24 Grand Prix Final champion. Kaori won many other medals throughout her career, including six Japanese national titles. As a junior skater, she won bronze medals at the 2017 World Junior Championships and the 2016–17 Junior Grand Prix Final.

Kaori made history as the first Japanese woman to win the World Championships since Mao Asada in 2014. She was also the first Japanese skater to win three World titles in a row in any skating style. She is the first woman since Peggy Fleming (1966–1968) to achieve this. Kaori is also the first woman since Michelle Kwan to win four World titles. She is the only Japanese skater to win four World titles and the only Japanese women's singles skater to compete in three Winter Olympics.

About Kaori Sakamoto

Kaori Sakamoto was born on April 9, 2000, in Kobe, Hyōgo, Japan. Her family decided early on that she would become a figure skater. She graduated from Kobe Gakuin University in September 2023. Kaori enjoys swimming and putting together jigsaw puzzles in her free time.

In August 2023, Kaori received the Kobe City Sports Special Award. This was to celebrate her becoming a two-time World Figure Skating Champion. Kaori prefers to use white Edea skates, specifically the Ice Fly model, with classic silver blades. After her competitive skating career, she has shared that she is interested in becoming a figure skating coach.

Kaori's Skating Journey

Starting on Ice

Kaori Sakamoto began learning to skate on November 18, 2003, in Kobe. She has worked with her coaches, Sonoko Nakano, Mitsuko Graham, and Sei Kawahara, since she started.

She won a gold medal at the 2012–13 Japan Novice Championships. In the same year, she placed eighth at the Japan Junior Championships. Kaori was invited to perform in the gala at the 2013 World Team Trophy.

Junior Achievements

First International Competitions

During the 2013–2014 season, Kaori debuted in the ISU Junior Grand Prix (JGP) series. She placed sixth in Ostrava, Czech Republic. She finished eighth at the Japan Junior Championships that year.

Rising Through the Ranks

Kaori started her 2014–15 season by finishing seventh at her JGP event in Aichi, Japan. She then won the Japanese national silver medal at the junior level. After this, she placed sixth at the senior level during the 2014–15 Japan Championships. These results earned her a spot at the 2015 World Junior Championships. There, she placed fourth in the short program and sixth in the free skate, finishing sixth overall.

Kaori Sakamoto at the 2015 World Junior Championships.

Overcoming Challenges

In the 2015–16 season, Kaori won a silver medal at her JGP event in Riga, Latvia. She finished fourth at another JGP event in Toruń, Poland. She had a stress fracture in her right shinbone, which kept her off the ice in October. She started skating again in November, but without jumps. At the Japanese Championships, she placed fifth in the junior event and thirteenth at the senior level. Kaori was chosen to compete at the 2016 Winter Youth Olympics. She placed fifth in the short program and sixth in the free skate, finishing sixth overall.

World Junior Bronze Medal

Kaori Sakamoto won bronze at the 2017 World Junior Championships.

Kaori earned medals at both of her 2016–17 JGP events. She won silver in France and gold in Japan. She then became the Japanese junior champion. In December, she took the bronze medal at the Junior Grand Prix Final in Marseille, France. She placed seventh in the senior competition at the Japan Championships. She was chosen to replace an injured skater at the 2017 Asian Winter Games but had to withdraw due to the flu. She went on to win a bronze medal at the 2017 World Junior Championships. As the junior world bronze medalist, she was invited to skate in the gala at the 2017 World Team Trophy.

Senior Career Highlights

Four Continents Champion and First Olympics

Kaori Sakamoto at the 2018 Four Continents Championships.

Kaori started her first full senior season at the 2017 Asian Figure Skating Trophy, winning the gold medal. At the 2017 U.S. Classic, she placed fourth overall. Making her senior Grand Prix debut, she finished fifth at the 2017 Rostelecom Cup. At the 2017 Skate America, she achieved new personal best scores and won the silver medal.

Kaori won the short program at the 2017–18 Japan Figure Skating Championships. She then won the silver medal, her first senior national medal. After this, the Japan Skating Federation selected Kaori for Japan's team at the 2018 Winter Olympics. She was also named to Japan's team for the 2018 Four Continents Championships.

At the 2018 Four Continents Championships, Kaori placed second in the short program with a new personal best. She then won the free skate with another personal best score, becoming the champion. This led to a Japanese sweep of the podium.

Kaori Sakamoto competing at the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Kaori competed in the ladies' free skating part of the Team Event at the 2018 Winter Olympics. She placed fifth individually and fifth overall with Team Japan. In the ladies' singles competition, Kaori skated a new personal best short program. She was in fifth place before the free skate. She made small mistakes in the free skate but still earned the sixth-highest score, finishing sixth overall.

First National Title

Kaori Sakamoto (right) on the podium at the 2018 Grand Prix of Helsinki.

Kaori began the 2018–19 season at the 2018 CS Lombardia Trophy, where she finished fourth. At 2018 Skate America, she won the silver medal again. At her second event, the 2018 Grand Prix of Helsinki, Kaori earned a bronze medal.

At the 2018–19 Grand Prix Final, Kaori placed fourth. She was happy with her score despite a small error.

Kaori Sakamoto during the 2018–19 Grand Prix Final.

Competing in the 2018 Japan Championships, Kaori placed second in the short program. She also placed second in the free skate but won the gold medal overall. This made her the first skater to finish ahead of Rika Kihira in a senior competition. She was chosen for the 2019 Four Continents Championships and the 2019 World Championships.

At the 2019 Four Continents, Kaori placed second in the short program with a new personal best. She finished fourth overall, just missing the podium. At the World Championships in Saitama, Kaori placed second in the short program, earning a silver small medal. She finished fifth overall. Kaori ended the season at the 2019 World Team Trophy, where she won a silver medal as part of Team Japan.

Learning and Growing

Kaori Sakamoto practicing in 2019.

Kaori started the 2019–20 season at the 2019 CS Ondrej Nepela Memorial, winning a silver medal. This was her first Challenger medal.

At 2019 Skate America, Kaori finished fourth overall. Her second Grand Prix event was the 2019 Internationaux de France, where she also placed fourth.

Kaori Sakamoto during her short program at the 2019 Internationaux de France.

At the 2019–20 Japanese Championships, Kaori struggled and dropped to sixth place overall. She later said that she learned from these challenges. Despite her sixth-place finish, Kaori was chosen to compete at the 2020 Four Continents Championships. She placed fifth overall there.

Grand Prix Gold Medal

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kaori won both the Kinki Regional Championship and Western Sectionals. This qualified her for the national championships. Kaori began the international season at the 2020 NHK Trophy. She won the short program and skated a clean free skate. She won her first Grand Prix gold medal by almost thirty points. Kaori said her improvement was partly due to more strength training during the pandemic.

At the 2020–21 Japan Championships, Kaori finished in second place. She skated cleanly in the free skate. Kaori was chosen for the Japanese team for the 2021 World Championships in Stockholm. She placed sixth overall, which helped Japan qualify three spots for ladies' skating at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. She then competed at the 2021 World Team Trophy. She placed third in the short program and second in the free skate, helping Team Japan win the bronze medal.

Olympic Bronze and First World Title

Kaori Sakamoto at the 2022 World Championships.

Kaori started the 2021–22 season at the 2021 CS Asian Open, where she won the silver medal. On the Grand Prix, she placed fourth at 2021 Skate America. She then won her second consecutive gold at the 2021 NHK Trophy. Kaori's results qualified her for the Grand Prix Final, but it was canceled.

With Rika Kihira injured, Kaori was the favorite for the national title at the 2021–22 Japan Championships. She skated cleanly to win both parts of the competition and her second gold medal. As a result, she was named to her second Japanese Olympic team.

Kaori Sakamoto's free skate at the 2022 World Championships.

Kaori began the 2022 Winter Olympics by skating in the women's free skate for the Olympic team event. She placed second, earning nine points for Team Japan. Japan won the bronze medal, giving Kaori her first Olympic medal. In the women's event, Kaori skated a clean short program and earned a new personal best score, ranking third. She skated a clean free skate, also achieving a new personal best. She won the bronze medal, becoming the fourth Japanese woman to win an Olympic medal in singles skating.

At the 2022 World Championships, Kaori was the favorite to win. She skated cleanly and won the short program with a new personal best score. She also won the free skate, setting new personal bests for that segment and her total score. She became Japan's first women's singles World Champion since 2014.

Second World Title

Kaori Sakamoto during her short program at the 2022 CS Lombardia Trophy.

Kaori started the 2022–23 season at the 2022 CS Lombardia Trophy, where she finished second. At the 2022 Japan Open, she finished first in the women's free skate, helping Team Japan win the gold medal. She then won gold at 2022 Skate America. Kaori entered the NHK Trophy as the two-time champion. She placed second overall. Both she and Kim Ye-lim qualified for the Grand Prix Final.

Kaori Sakamoto's free skate at the 2022 CS Lombardia Trophy.

Kaori won the short program at the Grand Prix Final. However, she made several jump errors in the free skate, dropping to fifth overall. At the 2022–23 Japan Championships, Kaori skated cleanly and won her second consecutive national title. She earned silver at the 2023 Winter World University Games. She then won gold at the International Challenge Cup.

At the 2023 World Championships in Saitama, Kaori won the short program. She made one mistake in the free skate but still finished second in that segment and first overall. She won her second World gold medal. This made her the fourth woman to win consecutive World Championships since 1991. Kaori was named captain of Team Japan for the 2023 World Team Trophy. She placed second in both segments, and Team Japan won the bronze medal.

Third World Title and Grand Slam

Kaori Sakamoto performing her short program at the 2024 World Championships.

For the 2023–24 figure skating season, Kaori worked with Jeffrey Buttle on her short program. She dedicated it to her niece and nephew. For her free skate, she worked with Marie-France Dubreuil again. She also trained with retired American ice dancer, Zachary Donohue.

Kaori won gold at the 2023 CS Autumn Classic International. At the 2023 Japan Open, she finished first in the women's free skate, helping Team Japan win the gold medal.

Kaori began the Grand Prix by winning gold at 2023 Skate Canada International. She also won the 2023 Grand Prix of Espoo.

Kaori Sakamoto performing her free skate at the 2024 World Championships.

At the Final in Beijing, Kaori won both segments. She captured her first Grand Prix Final title and completed the "Career Grand Slam" of major event gold medals. At the end of the same month, Kaori won her fourth straight national title at the 2023–24 Japan Championships.

At the 2024 World Championships in Montreal, Kaori placed fourth in the short program. She then rallied in the free skate, placing first in that segment by a wide margin. She took the gold medal, marking the first time in 56 years that a women's singles skater won three consecutive World titles. During the 2024 Paris Olympics, Kaori and her teammates from the 2022 Olympic Figure Skating Team Event received their Olympic silver medals.

World Silver and Grand Prix Final Bronze

Kaori Sakamoto performing her short program at the 2024–25 Grand Prix Final.

Kaori started the 2024–25 season by finishing third at the 2024 CS Lombardia Trophy. She then competed on the 2024–25 Grand Prix series. Kaori won the short program at 2024 Skate Canada International and finished first overall. She expressed disappointment with her free skate but used it as motivation.

Two weeks later, at the 2024 NHK Trophy, Kaori delivered two clean performances. She won the event, earning her fourth gold medal at this competition. During the event's exhibition gala, Kaori and other members of the 2022 Olympic Team Event were celebrated for their achievement.

Kaori Sakamoto during her free skate at the 2024–25 Grand Prix Final.

With her Grand Prix results, she qualified for the Grand Prix Final for a third year in a row. She finished fourth in the short program. In the free skate, she rose to third place overall to win the bronze medal. She was glad to be on the podium despite struggling in practice.

Two weeks later, she competed at the 2024–25 Japan Championships, winning her fifth national title. She was then named to the World team.

In February 2025, Kaori competed at the 2025 Asian Winter Games. She won the silver medal there. The following month, at the 2025 World Championships in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, Kaori placed fifth in the short program. She came back with a strong free skate, placing second in that segment and winning the silver medal overall. She shared that she felt many emotions, including happiness for the winner and a little frustration, but also relief.

A few weeks later, Kaori competed for Team Japan at the 2025 World Team Trophy. She placed second in the women's short program and third in the free skate. These placements helped Team Japan secure the silver medal.

Milano Cortina Olympic Silvers, Fourth World Title and Retirement

In June 2025, Kaori announced her plan to retire from competitive figure skating after the 2025–26 season. For her short program, she worked with Benoît Richaud and chose "Time to Say Goodbye" as her music. She explained that the song's title meant looking towards her next self, not an end. For her free skate, she used an Édith Piaf medley, including "Hymne à l'amour", a song she had saved for her final season.

She opened the season at the 2025 CS Kinoshita Group Cup in September 2025, where she won the silver medal.

The following month, she placed a close second at the 2025 Grand Prix de France. She noted that her 20th Grand Prix event experience helped her handle the competition.

Three weeks later, Kaori dominated the women's event at the 2025 NHK Trophy. She took her fourth gold medal at this event and qualified for the 2025–26 Grand Prix Final.

In December 2025, Kaori competed at the 2025–26 Grand Prix Final in Nagoya, Japan. She placed fifth in the short program. She then skated a solid free skate, winning that segment and rising to the bronze medal position overall. She was satisfied with the result, seeing it as good practice for the upcoming Japanese Nationals.

At the 2025–26 Japan Championships, Kaori won her sixth national title. She was then named to the Winter Olympic team for a third time. The women's short program of the team event was held on February 6, 2026. Kaori finished in first place, setting a new personal best score for the season. Her performance was described as "dazzling." She said she skated well and felt her usual nervousness turned into a healthy level of tension. Two days later, Kaori also won the free skate segment, helping Team Japan secure the Olympic silver medal for a second time. She shared how important the team event had become to her and her teammates.

On February 17, 2026, Kaori competed in the short program of the Women's singles event. She placed second. She said she had a lot of fun while skating and was very satisfied. She felt grateful to be in the "chasing position" until the end.

Two days later, she competed in the free skate segment. Kaori skated a solid program but made a costly mistake on a jump, losing points. She ultimately placed second in the free skate and won the silver medal overall, just 1.89 points behind first place. After the scores were finalized, American figure skater Amber Glenn comforted Kaori. A video showed Glenn waving away a cameraman who tried to get a close-up of Kaori's tear-filled face.

Kaori expressed frustration at not winning gold but also pride in her growth. She and speed skater, Wataru Morishige, were then chosen as Japan's flag bearers for the Olympic closing ceremony.

Kaori earned her fourth World title at the 2026 World Championships in Prague. She placed first in the short program, breaking the record for most PCS (Program Component Score) awarded in a woman's short program. On March 27, 2026, she skated her final competitive program. She broke the record for highest PCS awarded in a woman's free skate and set a new personal best score with 158.97 points in the free skate and 238.28 overall.

Awards and Recognition

Kaori Sakamoto has received many awards for her achievements:

• Hyogo Prefecture Sports Award: Special Athlete Award (2022, 2023, 2024)
• Japanese Olympic Committee, JOC Sports Award: Special Honour Award (2022, 2024)
• Japan Skating Federation: JOC Cup Best Athlete Award (2022, 2024)
• Kansai Sports Award (2023, 2024)
• Kozuki Sports Award (2017, 2022, 2023)
• Kobe City: Kobe Honor Award (2022)
• Kobe City: Special Sports Award (2022, 2023)
• Kobe Shimbun Sports Award (2022)
• TV Asahi: Big Sports Special Award (2022)

Programs

Kaori Sakamoto performing a one-handed Biellmann spin during the gala at the 2024–25 Grand Prix Final.

Kaori Sakamoto during the gala at the 2024 World Championships.

Kaori Sakamoto performing her exhibition program at the 2019 Internationaux de France.

Competition and Exhibition Programs

Competition and exhibition programs by season 

Season	Short program	Free skate program	Exhibition program
2013–14	Anything Goes Composed by Cole Porter Choreo. by Masashiro Kawagoe	Aladdin Composed by Alan Menken Choreo. by Masashiro Kawagoe	N/A
2014–15	"Dark Eyes" Composed by Florian Hermann Choreo. by Masashiro Kawagoe, Sonoko Nakano, Yukina Ota	Romeo and Juliet Composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Choreo. by Masashiro Kawagoe, Sonoko Nakano, Yukina Ota	N/A
2015–16	"Malagueña" Composed by Ernesto Lecuona Choreo. by Masashiro Kawagoe	The Color Purple Composed by Quincy Jones Choreo. by Masashiro Kawagoe	N/A
2016–17	The Artist Composed by Ludovic Bource Choreo. by Massimo Scali	The Color Purple	Primavera Porteña Composed by Astor Piazzolla Performed by Kazuma Miura Choreo. by Masashiro Kawagoe
2017–18	Moonlight Sonata Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven Choreo. by Benoît Richaud	Amélie Composed by Yann Tiersen Choreo. by Benoît Richaud	James Bond Medley
2018–19	"From My First Moment (Gymnopédie No. 1)" Composed by Erik Satie Performed by Charlotte Church Choreo. by David Wilson	The Piano Composed by Michael Nyman Choreo. by Benoît Richaud	"Jin" Composed by Tsukuyomi Choreo. by Misao Sato
2019–20	"No Roots" Composed by Alice Merton Choreo. by Shae-Lynn Bourne	The Matrix Composed by Don Davis Choreo. by Benoît Richaud	"Jin"
2020–21	Medley: Prelude No. 2 Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach Performed by Jacques Loussier Trio Bach à la Jazz Composed by Matt Herskowitz, Mary Kerr Choreo. by Benoît Richaud	The Matrix	Les Demoiselles de Rochefort Composed by Michel Legrand
2021–22	Gladiator Composed by Lisa Gerrard, Hans Zimmer Choreo. by Benoît Richaud	I Am a Woman "No More Fight Left In Me" Composed by Imany, Armand Amar "Tris" Performed by Ellie Goulding, Junkie XL Choreo. by Benoît Richaud	"Tango Amore" Composed by Edvin Marton Choreo. by Misao Sato
2022–23	Janet Jackson Medley "Rock with U" Performed by Janet Jackson, Ne-Yo "Feedback" Performed by Janet Jackson Choreo. by Rohene Ward	"Elastic Heart" Performed by Sia Choreo. by Marie-France Dubreuil	"Heart Upon My Sleeve" Performed by Avicii, Imagine Dragons Choreo. by Yuka Sato
2023–24	"Baby, God Bless You" Composed by Shinya Kiyozuka Performed by Orchestra Possible Choreo. by Jeffrey Buttle	Lauryn Hill Medley "Wild Is the Wind" "Feeling Good" Performed by Lauryn Hill Choreo. by Marie-France Dubreuil	"Elastic Heart" Performed by Lena Yokoyama Choreo. by Marie-France Dubreuil
2024–25	Astor Piazzolla Medley "Resurreccion del Angel" "La muerte del Angel" Composed by Astor Piazzolla Performed by Gidon Kremer Choreo. by Rohene Ward	"All That Jazz" From Chicago Composed by John Kander Performed by Renée Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones Choreo. by Marie-France Dubreuil	"Poison" Performed by Freya Ridings Choreo. by Kana Muramoto
2025–26	"Time to Say Goodbye" Performed by Andrea Bocelli, Sarah Brightman Choreo. by Benoît Richaud	Édith Piaf Medley "La Vie en rose" "Hymne à l'amour" "Non, je ne regrette rien" Performed by Patricia Kaas Choreo. by Marie-France Dubreuil	"Non, je ne regrette rien" Performed by Patricia Kaas Choreo. by Satoko Miyahara

Competitive Highlights

Kaori Sakamoto (center) at the 2024 Skate Canada International medal ceremony.

Kaori Sakamoto (center) at the 2024 World Championship medal ceremony.

Kaori Sakamoto during the medal ceremony at the 2017 World Junior Championships.

See also

In Spanish: Kaori Sakamoto para niños