Japanese figure skater Kaori Sakamoto announced her retirement from professional competition during a press conference in Kobe on May 13, 2024 [1].
Sakamoto's departure marks the end of a decorated career that culminated in a silver medal at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics [3]. As one of Japan's most prominent athletes in the sport, her decision to step away affects the landscape of international figure skating as the circuit prepares for future Olympic cycles.
The 26-year-old athlete [1] held the event at a hotel in the Chuo Ward of Kobe. During the conference, she reflected on her years of rigorous training and competitive drive, describing her time as an active athlete as her "youth" [1].
"Practicing while active was youth," Sakamoto said [1].
While she expressed a sense of completion, she noted a lingering emotional weight regarding the transition. "The feeling that I have done everything is the strongest, and there is a little bit of sadness," she said [2].
Beyond her professional announcement, Sakamoto shared personal news regarding her private life. She informed the gathered press that she has entered a new chapter of her life through marriage.
"I have married, ehehe," Sakamoto said [4].
Reports regarding the exact timing of her retirement vary. Some sources indicate she stepped away from active competition in March [2], while other reports state that the formal announcement and declaration of retirement occurred during the May 13 press conference [1], [3].
“"Practicing while active was youth,"”
Sakamoto's retirement follows a peak performance period, specifically her silver-medal finish at the Milano Cortina Games. By transitioning out of the sport at 26, she leaves a void in the Japanese women's field, shifting the focus to a new generation of skaters as the international community looks toward the next Winter Games.
