Winter Olympics 2026: Japan’s teary Sakamoto Kaori reflects on silver-medal skate, looks to “raise a gold medallist” as coach
Three-time figure skating world champion Sakamoto Kaori saw her Olympic dreams narrowly slip away on February 19, 2026, at the Milano Cortina Games, finishing just 1.89 points behind the gold medalist. The silver medalist will now focus on coaching aspiring champions as she embarks on a new chapter in her career.
“It’s over. It really is,” Sakamoto stated through tears after the event, recalling her stark disappointment after being outscored by America’s Alysa Liu. “After the skate, my coach, Nakano Sonoko, told me, ‘You won silver, Kaori. That means it’s now your turn to try to raise a gold medallist.’” With that resolve, Sakamoto indicated her shift towards nurturing the next generation of skaters.
The 25-year-old wrapped up her Olympic journey with a collection of three silvers and a bronze, the latter won at the Beijing 2022 Games. Sakamoto was candid about her aspirations, which included a fine ending to her competitive career with Olympic gold—but lamentably, she couldn’t grasp it on this occasion.
Competing as one of the final athletes, Sakamoto began strong with a brilliant double Axel and triple flip, but an unfortunate error during her triple combination cost her critical points. Reflecting on her performance, she could not escape the weight of missed opportunity despite the podium finish.
“I only felt regret,” Sakamoto said, articulating her frustration with the delicate balance of pressure and expectation. “The frustration is unbearable, especially after the intense work of the last four years. I want to give myself a pat on the back for creating such beautiful moments.”
Though her Olympic fairy-tale ending was not realized, Sakamoto’s determination as a coach signifies her commitment to create champions, instilling passion and skills from her own journey into the athletes she will train moving forward.
