Japanese figure skater Kaori Sakamoto delivered a flawless performance in her free skate routine to clinch victory at the NHK Trophy, signaling that this may be her final appearance at the event. Sakamoto, a three-time world champion, announced earlier this year her intention to retire after the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina. Skating to music by Edith Piaf, Sakamoto executed seven triple jumps and achieved an impressive Grand Prix season-high score of 227.18, delighting her local fans in Osaka.
Her triumph in the NHK Trophy, combined with a previous second-place finish at the Grand Prix de France, secured her a place in the Grand Prix Final in Nagoya. Meanwhile, newcomer Sofia Samodelkina from Kazakhstan claimed the second spot with 200 points, followed by Loena Hendrickx from Belgium. Ottawa’s Katherine Medland Spence, the lone Canadian participant, finished 11th in her Grand Prix debut with a total of 146.63 points.
Loena Hendrickx, the 2024 European Champion, made a strong comeback to the Grand Prix series after a hiatus due to ankle surgery. She delivered a solid performance landing six triple jumps cleanly, earning a total score of 198.97 points. Hendrickx also secured a spot in the Olympics after finishing third at the ISU Skate to Milano Figure Skating qualifier.
In the men’s event, Yuma Kagiyama, the 2022 Olympic silver medalist, overcame an early mistake to claim his third consecutive NHK Trophy title. Despite a fall on his quadruple toe loop, Kagiyama showcased resilience and finished with an overall score of 287.24. His compatriot, Shun Sato, landed three flawless quad jumps to achieve a personal best score of 189.04 in the free skate, totaling 285.71 points.
Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson from Great Britain dominated the ice dance category, securing the gold medal with a total score of 205.88, guaranteeing their spot in the Grand Prix Final. Italian pair Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii outperformed the 2022 Olympic champions Sui Wenjing and Han Cong from China to claim the pairs title.
As the competition unfolds, all eyes are on Sakamoto and the emerging talents as they set their sights on the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina.
