Career Timeline of Kaori Sakamoto: Major Achievements and Milestones

How Kaori Sakamoto built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Kaori Sakamoto is a highly accomplished Japanese figure skater. She secured the bronze medal at the 2022 Olympics and two silver medals in the Olympic team event. Sakamoto has also achieved remarkable success at the World Championships, earning three gold medals (2022-2024) and a silver medal (2025). Her other notable achievements include winning the 2018 Four Continents Championships, the 2023-24 Grand Prix Final, and multiple Grand Prix medals. Domestically, she has been a dominant force, claiming the Japanese national title six times. Early in her career, she won a bronze medal at the 2017 World Junior Championships and at the 2016-17 Junior Grand Prix Final.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Legacy & Impact

November 18, 2003: Began Learning to Skate

On November 18, 2003, Sakamoto began learning to skate in Kobe with her coaches Sonoko Nakano, Mitsuko Graham, and Sei Kawahara.

2012: Gold Medal at Japan Novice Championships

In 2012, she won the gold medal at the 2012–13 Japan Novice Championships.

2013: 9th at Japan Junior Championships and World Team Trophy Invitation

In 2013, Sakamoto placed 9th at the Japan Junior Championships and was invited to skate in the gala at the 2013 World Team Trophy.

2013: Debuted on ISU Junior Grand Prix Circuit

In 2013, during the 2013-2014 season, Sakamoto debuted on the ISU Junior Grand Prix (JGP) circuit.

2014: First World Championships Win Since Mao Asada

In 2014, Kaori Sakamoto became the first Japanese woman to win the World Championships since Mao Asada.

2014: Seventh at JGP Aichi and Silver at Japanese National Junior Level

In 2014, Sakamoto finished seventh at her JGP event in Aichi, Japan, and won the Japanese national silver medal on the junior level.

2014: Sixth Place at JGP Ostrava and Eighth at Japan Junior Championships

In 2014, Sakamoto placed sixth in Ostrava, Czech Republic, at the ISU Junior Grand Prix (JGP) and finished eighth at the Japan Junior Championships.

2015: Sixth Place at World Junior Championships

In 2015, Sakamoto competed at the World Junior Championships, placing fourth in the short program and sixth in the free skate to finish sixth overall.

2016: Junior Grand Prix Final Bronze Medalist

In 2016, Kaori Sakamoto was the Junior Grand Prix Final bronze medalist.

2016: JGP Medals and Junior Title

In 2016, Sakamoto received medals at both of her JGP assignments – silver in France and gold in Japan – and then won the Japanese junior title.

2016: Winter Youth Olympics and Injury

In 2016, Sakamoto was selected to compete at the 2016 Winter Youth Olympics where she placed sixth overall. She also had a stress fracture in her right shinbone, causing her to stay off the ice in October and resume skating without jumps in November.

2017: World Junior Bronze Medalist

In 2017, Kaori Sakamoto became the World Junior bronze medalist.

2017: Senior Season Debut and Grand Prix Success

In 2017, Sakamoto started her first full senior season, winning gold at the Asian Figure Skating Trophy, placing fourth at the U.S. Classic, finishing 5th at the Rostelecom Cup, and winning silver at Skate America.

2017: Junior Grand Prix Final Bronze, Asian Winter Games Withdrawal, and World Junior Bronze

In 2017, Sakamoto won the bronze medal at the Junior Grand Prix Final in Marseille, France, withdrew from the 2017 Asian Winter Games due to the flu, and won bronze at the 2017 World Junior Championships.

2017: Silver at Japan Figure Skating Championships

In 2017, Sakamoto won the short program at the Japan Figure Skating Championships and placed fourth in the free skate, winning the silver medal, her first senior national medal.

2018: Four Continents Championship Win

At the 2018 Four Continents Championships, Sakamoto won the free skate and the championship, leading a Japanese sweep of the podium.

2018: Fourth Place at Grand Prix Final

At the 2018–19 Grand Prix Final, Sakamoto placed fourth in both segments, narrowly missing the podium after falling on the last part of her three-jump combination.

2018: 2018 Winter Olympics

In 2018, Sakamoto competed in the team event at the Winter Olympics, placing fifth individually and fifth overall within Team Japan. In the ladies' singles competition, she placed sixth overall.

2018: 2018 CS Lombardia Trophy and Grand Prix Events

In 2018, Sakamoto participated in the CS Lombardia Trophy, finishing fourth overall, and later secured a silver medal at Skate America. She also finished third at the Grand Prix of Helsinki.

2018: Named to Japan's Olympic and Four Continents Teams

In 2018, Sakamoto was named to Japan's team for the 2018 Winter Olympics and the 2018 Four Continents Championships.

2018: Won Gold Medal at Japan Championships

In 2018, Sakamoto won the gold medal at the Japan Championships, becoming the first skater to place ahead of Rika Kihira in senior competition.

2018: Second Place at Coupe du Printemps

Post-Olympics, in 2018 Sakamoto competed at the Coupe du Printemps. She placed second overall behind compatriot Mai Mihara.

2019: Fifth place finish at World Championships

At the 2019 World Championships in Saitama, Sakamoto placed second in the short program and fifth overall. She also won a silver medal at the 2019 World Team Trophy as part of Team Japan.

2019: Sixth Place at Japanese Championships

At the 2019–20 Japanese Championships, Sakamoto finished in sixth place overall after struggling in the free skate, attributing her difficulties to the absence of her training partner Mai Mihara.

2019: Named to Japanese Teams for Championships

In 2019, Sakamoto was named to the Japanese teams for the 2019 Four Continents Championships and the 2019 World Championships.

2019: Silver Medal at CS Ondrej Nepela Memorial

In 2019, Sakamoto won the silver medal at the 2019 CS Ondrej Nepela Memorial, her first Challenger medal.

2019: Grand Prix Performances at Skate America and Internationaux de France

In 2019, during the Grand Prix season, Sakamoto placed fourth at Skate America after a strong short program and struggled at the Internationaux de France, finishing fourth overall despite challenges in both programs.

2020: Second Place at Japan Championships

At the 2020–21 Japan Championships, Sakamoto finished in second place behind Rika Kihira, despite an error in her short program.

2020: Fifth Place at Four Continents Championships

In 2020, Sakamoto competed at the Four Continents Championships, finishing fifth overall after attempting a quad toe loop for the first time and making several other errors.

2020: Grand Prix Gold at 2020 NHK Trophy

In 2020, Sakamoto won the Kinki Regional Championship and Western Sectionals. She also won the gold medal at the 2020 NHK Trophy, marking her first Grand Prix gold medal.

2021: 2021 CS Asian Open Silver Medal & Grand Prix Assignments

In 2021, Kaori Sakamoto began the season at the 2021 CS Asian Open, securing the silver medal. She was assigned to Skate America for the Grand Prix, finishing fourth. Later, at the 2021 NHK Trophy, she won both segments of the competition, earning her second consecutive gold. Sakamoto qualified for the Grand Prix Final, which was later cancelled.

2021: Sixth Place at World Championships and Bronze at World Team Trophy

In 2021, Sakamoto placed sixth at the World Championships, securing three Olympic berths for Japan. She also earned a bronze medal with Team Japan at the World Team Trophy.

2021: 2021-22 Japan Championships Victory

In 2021, Sakamoto won the 2021–22 Japan Championships, earning her second gold medal and securing a spot on her second Japanese Olympic team.

2022: 2022 Winter Olympics: Team Bronze and Individual Bronze

At the 2022 Winter Olympics, Sakamoto contributed to Japan's team bronze medal in the team event. In the women's singles event, she skated cleanly and won the bronze medal, becoming the fourth Japanese woman to medal in the Olympics and the first in twelve years.

2022: 2022 World Championships Gold Medal

At the 2022 World Championships, Sakamoto won the gold medal, setting new personal bests in the short program, free skate, and total score. She became Japan's first women's singles skater to win the World Championships since 2014.

2022: 2022-23 Japan Championships Title

At the 2022–23 Japan Championships, Sakamoto won the national title for the second consecutive year, earning a spot on Japan's 2023 World Championship team.

2022: Qualification for the 2022 Winter Olympics

In 2021, Sakamoto's placement at the World Championships combined with Kihira's seventh place qualified three Japanese ladies' berths at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.

2022: Olympic Bronze Medalist

In 2022, Kaori Sakamoto won the Olympic bronze medal in figure skating.

2022: 2022 Olympic Figure Skating Team Event

In 2022, Sakamoto and her teammates won the silver medal at the Olympic Figure Skating Team Event.

2022: 2022 CS Lombardia Trophy, Japan Open, Skate America and NHK Trophy

In 2022, Sakamoto finished second at the CS Lombardia Trophy. She helped Team Japan win gold at the Japan Open. She won gold at Skate America and finished second at the NHK Trophy. Her Janet Jackson medley short program earned praise from Janet Jackson herself.

2022: Celebration of 2022 Olympic Team Event

In 2024, during the NHK Trophy exhibition gala, all members of the 2022 Olympic Team Event, including Sakamoto, were invited to center stage, wearing their Olympic costumes and Olympic medals, in celebration of their achievement.

2023: 2023 World Championships Gold Medal

At the 2023 World Championships in Saitama, Sakamoto won her second World gold medal, becoming the fourth woman to win consecutive World Championships since the abolition of compulsory figures in 1991.

2023: World University Games Silver Medalist

In 2023, Kaori Sakamoto won the World University Games silver medal.

2023: 2023 Grand Prix Final Title and Japan Championships Victory

In 2023, Sakamoto captured her first Grand Prix Final title in Beijing, completing the "Career Grand Slam" of major event gold medals. She also won the 2023–24 Japan Championships, securing her fourth straight national title.

2023: 2023 Winter World University Games and International Challenge Cup

In 2023, Sakamoto competed at the Winter World University Games in Lake Placid, finishing with the silver medal. She then won gold at the International Challenge Cup, posting her first international free skate score of over 150 points for the season.

2023: 2023 World Team Trophy Bronze Medal

In 2023, Sakamoto was named captain of Team Japan for the World Team Trophy, where the team won the bronze medal.

2023: 2023 CS Autumn Classic International and Japan Open Victories

In 2023, Sakamoto won gold at the CS Autumn Classic International. At the Japan Open, she finished first in the women's free skate, helping Team Japan win the gold medal.

2023: 2023 Grand Prix Series Victories

In 2023, Sakamoto won the Skate Canada International and the Grand Prix of Espoo, marking her first appearance at Skate Canada International.

2023: New Programs and Choreography for 2023-24 Season

In preparation for the 2023–24 figure skating season, Sakamoto worked with Jeffrey Buttle on her short program, using music from the Japanese medical drama Kōnodori. She dedicated the program to her niece and nephew. Her free skate was choreographed by Marie-France Dubreuil, and she worked with Zachary Donohue to improve her skating skills.

2024: 2024 World Championships Gold Medal

At the 2024 World Championships in Montreal, Sakamoto won the gold medal, marking the first time in 56 years that a women's singles skater won three consecutive World titles.

2024: Three-Time World Champion

By 2024, Kaori Sakamoto became a three-time World champion in figure skating.

2024: 2022 Olympic Team Event Silver Medal Ceremony

During the 2024 Paris Olympics, a medal ceremony was held for Sakamoto and her teammates from the 2022 Olympic Figure Skating Team Event, where they were awarded their Olympic silver medals.

2024: Sakamoto wins fifth national title at 2024-25 Japan Championships

In 2024, Kaori Sakamoto competed at the 2024–25 Japan Championships, winning her fifth national title. She was subsequently named to the World team.

2024: Sakamoto wins 2024 NHK Trophy

In 2024, Kaori Sakamoto won the NHK Trophy, finishing almost twenty points ahead of Mone Chiba. All members of the 2022 Olympic Team Event were invited to center stage, wearing their Olympic costumes and medals, in celebration of their achievement.

2024: 2024 CS Lombardia Trophy and Skate Canada International

Sakamoto started the season by finishing third at the 2024 CS Lombardia Trophy. She won the short program at 2024 Skate Canada International but finished second overall after falling twice in the free skate.

2025: World Silver Medalist and More

In 2025, Kaori Sakamoto won the World silver medal, the Asian Winter Games silver medal and became a two-time Grand Prix Final bronze medalist.

2025: Team Japan Secures Silver at 2025 World Team Trophy

In 2025, Sakamoto competed for Team Japan at the 2025 World Team Trophy, placing second in the short program and third in the free skate, which helped secure the silver medal for Team Japan.

2025: Sakamoto wins fourth gold medal at 2025 NHK Trophy

In 2025, Sakamoto won her fourth gold medal at the NHK Trophy and qualified for the 2025-26 Grand Prix Final.

2025: Sakamoto wins silver at 2025 World Championships

In 2025, Sakamoto won the silver medal at the World Championships in Boston, behind Alysa Liu of the United States, following the 2025 Asian Winter Games where she won the silver medal.

2025: Sakamoto wins sixth national title at 2025-26 Japan Championships

In 2025, at the 2025–26 Japan Championships, Sakamoto won her sixth national title and was subsequently named to the Winter Olympic team for a third consecutive time.

2025: Sakamoto finishes third at 2025–26 Grand Prix Final

In December 2025, Sakamoto competed at the 2025–26 Grand Prix Final in Nagoya, Japan. She finished third overall after rising from fifth place after the short program.

2025: Sakamoto places second at 2025 Grand Prix de France

In October 2025, Sakamoto placed second behind Ami Nakai at the 2025 Grand Prix de France, marking her 20th Grand Prix event.

2025: Sakamoto wins silver at 2025 CS Kinoshita Group Cup

In September 2025, Sakamoto opened the season at the 2025 CS Kinoshita Group Cup, where she won the silver medal behind Mone Chiba.

February 2026: Sakamoto finishes first in team event at 2026 Winter Olympics

On February 6, 2026, Sakamoto finished in first place in the women's short program of the team event at the 2026 Winter Olympics, setting a new personal best score for the season.

2026: Two-Time Olympic Team Event Silver Medalist

In 2026, Kaori Sakamoto became a two-time Olympic team event silver medalist.

2026: Sakamoto wins silver medal in team event at 2026 Winter Olympics

In February 2026, Sakamoto placed first in the short program with a new season's best score and won the free skate segment, helping Team Japan secure the Olympic silver medal for a second consecutive time.