Kaori Sakamoto, a three-time world champion, delivered an exceptional free skate performance on Saturday to secure her victory at the NHK Trophy, an event she announced would be her final appearance. Having shared her retirement plans post the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics next year, Sakamoto was keen on giving a memorable show at her hometown Grand Prix in Osaka, Japan. Skating to tunes from Edith Piaf, Sakamoto flawlessly executed seven triple jumps, achieving a remarkable Grand Prix season-high score of 227.18.
Expressing her joy, Sakamoto mentioned, “It was an incredible experience performing in front of my local fans. Competing internationally in such proximity to my supporters and delivering a strong performance feels amazing.” By combining this win with her second-place finish in the Grand Prix de France, Sakamoto secured a spot in the upcoming Grand Prix Final in Nagoya, Japan.
In the competition, teenager Sofia Samodelkina of Kazakhstan, in her Grand Prix debut, claimed the second position with 200 points, followed by Loena Hendrickx from Belgium. Meanwhile, Ottawa’s Katherine Medland Spence, the only Canadian contender, finished in 11th place among the 12 skaters in her Grand Prix debut, scoring 146.63 points.
Loena Hendrickx, the 2024 European Champion, performed to “La Alegria,” landing six clean triple jumps and accumulating a total of 198.97 points. Hendrickx marked her return to the Grand Prix series after a hiatus in the previous season due to an ankle surgery in February.
Looking ahead to the upcoming competitions, Sakamoto aims to maintain her competitive edge as she prepares to face Russian figure skater Adeliia Petrosian in the Milan-Cortina Olympics. Petrosian, an 18-year-old with two consecutive national titles, remains undefeated over the past two seasons, showcasing remarkable skills with triple axels and quads, setting her apart from her competitors.
In the men’s singles event, Yuma Kagiyama, the 2022 Olympic silver medalist, secured his third consecutive NHK Trophy title despite an early mistake. Although Kagiyama stumbled on his quadruple toe loop, he successfully executed all other jumps, finishing with an overall score of 287.24. His compatriot Shun Sato, the Cup of China winner, delivered a stellar performance, landing three flawless quad jumps in the free skate to achieve a personal best of 189.04 and a total score of 285.71, confirming his place in the upcoming GP Final.
Furthermore, the ice dance category saw Great Britain’s Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson, world bronze medalists, clinch the gold medal with a total score of 205.88, securing their spot in the Grand Prix Final. Italy’s Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii claimed the pairs title, outshining the 2022 Olympic champions Sui Wenjing and Han Cong of China, who settled for the bronze medal.
This event marked a significant competition for the skaters, setting the stage for thrilling performances in the upcoming Grand Prix Final and the Winter Olympics.