Japan's Kaori Sakamoto concluded her illustrious competitive career with a historic fourth world title in the women's singles at the Figure Skating World Championships in Prague, Czechia, on Friday. The 25-year-old delivered an emotional free skate performance at the O2 Arena, achieving a personal-best score of 238.28 points.
A Legendary Farewell on Ice
Sakamoto's victory marks a significant milestone in figure skating history. She becomes the first women's single skater to win four world championships since Michelle Kwan, who secured her fifth title back in 2003. This triumph caps off a decorated career that includes four Olympic medals, notably two silvers at the recent Milan Cortina Games earlier this year.
Podium Finishes and Surprises
Fellow Japanese skater Mone Chiba claimed the silver medal with a score of 228.47, improving from her fourth-place finish at the Olympics. In a surprising turn, Belgium's Nina Pinzarrone earned the bronze medal with 215.20 points, a remarkable leap from her 13th-place position in Milan.
American contender Isabeau Levito, the 2024 world silver medalist, placed fourth, just a month after finishing 12th in her Olympic debut. Another American, Amber Glenn, entered the free skate in third but dropped to sixth following a series of jumping errors during her routine.
Notable Absences and Withdrawals
Alysa Liu of the United States, who won gold at the Milan Olympics last month, withdrew from the world championships, adding an unexpected twist to the competition lineup.
Ice Dance Competition Highlights
In the ice dance segment held on the same day, French Olympic champions Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron took a commanding lead after the rhythm dance. They posted a personal-best score of 92.74, positioning them strongly ahead of the free dance.
Canadian duo Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier, Olympic bronze medalists, secured second place with 86.45 points. The British team of Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson followed closely in third with a score of 85.09.
American silver medalists Madison Chock and Evan Bates opted not to compete for a fourth consecutive world title, having narrowly missed out on gold in Milan.
This event not only celebrated Sakamoto's stellar career but also showcased emerging talents and strategic shifts in the global figure skating landscape.
