Figure skater Kaori Sakamoto (Sysmex) held an emotional retirement press conference in her hometown of Kobe on the 13th, with over 100 journalists in attendance. Shedding tears, the 26-year-old Olympic silver medalist described her competitive career as a period of “youth” and admitted she feels “a sense of loneliness.” Looking ahead, she stated her intention to dedicate herself to coaching, saying, “In the future, I will focus on being a coach.”
Sakamoto reflected on her journey in the sport, emphasizing both the joy and the bittersweet moments. The press conference marked the end of an era for Japanese figure skating, as fans and media alike paid tribute to her remarkable achievements and graceful departure.
