Shimmering haze

I want him to know that he has become much stronger than what he thought himself to be. That even with all this weight on his shoulders, he kept moving forward, improving and showing amazing results.

Taking a break next season means that he'll be able to focus on himself and his love for skating. To a stubborn kid that pushed through even with injuries, I think it shows incredible growth.

I'm happy for him, I truly am. I'm still kind of processing it. It'll probably hit sometime later, maybe at the start of the season, who knows. But I'll know he'll come back because he said so himself.

2026 World Championships | Women's Podium

🥇 Kaori Sakamoto 🇯🇵 (238.28) 🥈 Mone Chiba 🇯🇵 (228.47) 🥉 Nina Pinzarrone 🇧🇪 (215.20)

Kaori,

Eight years ago I saw you making your senior debut and I knew there was something special in your skating. I had the privilege to see you become Bronze Olympic Medalist in 2022 and win 4 World Titles. I saw you grow, improve, and transform this sport with your power, your smiles, your charisma, and beautiful soul.

Know that you gave us all. You did your best.

What a program to finish your career. All I could do was sob all the way through.

Thank you for all my dear Kaori Sakamoto.

Kaori Sakamoto - Last skates of her career, 238.28 (PB)

Time To Say Goodbye (Short Program), 79.73 (SB)

She was magnificent. I'm in awe of her mental strength to deliver such an incredible performance tonight. The arena was roaring and she kept it cool and focused. It was so beautiful, strong, artistic - moved me to tears again.

There's a Polish song that comes to my mind when I think about Kaori leaving the sport. It goes like 'one should know when it's time to eave the stage - undefeated'. Even though I'm sad we won't see Kaori in competition anymore, I feel this is THE moment for her to close this chapter.

This girl rekindled my passion for this sport. It was my first ever live fs event and it feels so special for me to see her final competitive performance. Kaori always embodied true sportsmanship spirit to me, striving for the best and yet being humble, as well as kind and supportive towards other athletes.

In times when it seemed this sport would be dominated by teenagers for years to come, Kaori gave us programs of strong female protagonists such as herself - and she did so with incredible peecision and artistry. Thank you for all you did for this sport Kaori. Thank you for all the tears I shared with you. It was an honor.