Sakamoto Kaori: ‘To experience the Olympics one more time’
When Sakamoto made it clear the upcoming season would be her farewell tour, there was no drama or tears. It was filled with her trademark hearty laughs and ear-to-ear big smiles.
While the official announcement was made only three months ago, Sakamoto knew not long after Beijing 2022 that the Milano Cortina campaign would be it for her.
The Kobe native won a singles bronze at the Beijing Games, becoming the fourth female figure skater from Japan to set foot on the Olympic podium.
She also helped her country to its first medal in the team event, producing a then-personal best free skate as Japan took home silver.
What more could Sakamoto achieve, really? The only thing missing from her impressive trophy cabinet most skaters would kill for was an Olympic gold medal, and those can be hard to come by.
But it was the journey. The camaraderie. The honour of representing Japan in a sport which the country is mad about.
That is what brought Sakamoto back for one, last dance.
“Being honest, I was ready to quit anytime because I won a medal both in the team event and as an individual in Beijing,” said Sakamoto, who wants to go into coaching after retiring and groom future Sakamoto Kaoris in her hometown of Kobe where she continues to be based.
“But I really wanted to experience the Olympics one more time, and I knew there wouldn’t be another opportunity beyond (Milano Cortina).
“So I was determined then and there to give it everything I have for another four years and now the clock is really starting to tick.”