In the end, the tears did come. She did not want to cry, but when the audience of more than 14,000 rose at the end of her spectacular performance to give her a standing ovation and celebrated her with thunderous applause, Kaori Sakamoto couldn’t help it and the emotions overwhelmed her. The Women’s Free Skating in Prague marked not only the end of a competition for the Japanese skater but the end of a remarkable competitive career.

Kaori Sakamoto reacts after winning ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Prague, Czechia in March 2026. © ISU

It ended, where it once began, in Czechia. In the fall of 2013, a young skater from Japan named Kaori Sakamoto debuted on the ISU Junior Grand Prix series and finished sixth. Little did she know that almost 13 years later she would compete in her last international event in the same country and take home her fourth ISU World title. 

Kaori Sakamoto reacts after performing her free program at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Prague, Czechia in March 2026. © ISU

“My first Junior Grand Prix competition took place not in Prague, but in Ostrava, in Czechia,” Sakamoto recalled. “At that time during the competition I could see maybe a few people dispersed in the audience. To be able to be at the World Championships in Prague and have so many people in the audience, I think that I felt a little how far I have come. It was a good feeling to have.”

Kaori Sakamoto competes at the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships in Taipei, Taiwan in March 2017. © ISU

The 25-year-old earned that fourth World gold in true champion’s style. She set a new personal best in the Free Skating and overall as well as a seasons best in the Short Program. The last song of her Edith Piaf themed Free Skating was “Non, je ne regrette rien” (No, I don’t have any regrets) and there was no better way to finish.

 “Today I actually didn’t care about the results,” she said after the performance. “Of course I wanted to skate with no regrets. There so many people supporting me and watching and I just wanted to do my best for them.”

At this point, the nerves had gone away and Sakamoto was able to just enjoy these final four minutes on competitive ice. “I felt I’ve done everything that I could and this is a really good way to end a career.”

The ISU World Championships in Prague were a special highlight for the skater. “This moment [was the happiest], and of course my first unexpected Olympic medal and right after that my first Worlds title [in 2022],” she shared. 

Kaori Sakamoto reacts after perfoming her free program at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Montpellier, France in March 2022. © ISU

Sakamoto can look back at an incredible career. She is one of the most decorated figure skaters not only in Japan but in the World with four ISU World titles, two Olympic individual medals and two Olympic team medals, the ISU Four Continents title, 13 ISU Grand Prix medals and four medals in the ISU Grand Prix Final. She was a top contender all way through and competed in seven ISU World Championships, with her lowest placement being sixth in 2021.

Kaori Sakamoto celebrates winning the gold medal at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating - NHK Trophy in Tokyo, Japan, 2021. © ISU

However, there is more to her than just these results. Kaori Sakamoto is a true role model for skaters from all over the World thanks to her longevity in the sport, her power and grace on the ice, her athletic and artistic ability. 

“I think Kaori has been an incredible example of showing that you can be one of the top skaters for a long period of time and do it in a healthy way and for so many years I idolized her,” fellow skater Amber Glenn shared. “I watched her Beijing program so many times and to be here with her and at these competitions for the last couple years has been very, very, very exciting.”

The newly minted ISU World bronze medalist Nina Pinzarrone looks up to Sakamoto and feels inspired by her.

“The career she's had was just remarkable”, Pinzarrone said. “I remember her first Olympics she did [2018] with the red dress. I already thought, she's going to be so good in the future and I hope I can skate with her in competitions. Her jumps are so powerful, she has so much speed, she always tells stories, she's so happy to be here.”

Kaori Sakamoto competes in the women's short program during the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, 2018. © Getty Images

Sakamoto’s teammate and ISU World silver medalist Mone Chiba summed it up perfectly: “Watching Kaori skating is almost overwhelming. Her greatest achievement is being here and showing us what figure skating is.”

It is never time to say goodbye to champions like Kaori Sakamoto but she is happy and ready to open the next chapter in her life. It still will be connected to figure skating. 

“I received a lot of support from the others and now it’s my time to support and help the others,” she said. The four-time ISU World Champion who was guided throughout her entire career by Sonoko Nakano and her team plans to switch to the other side of the boards and become a coach herself.

However, before that, the time has come to harvest the fruits of years of hard work and just enjoy performing for an audience. 

“I’m still going to do a lot of ice shows. So if you guys are not tired watching me skate then please come to the ice shows,” Kaori Sakamoto concluded with a laugh.