Kaori Sakamoto, the three-time figure skating world champion, will retire after next year's 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, she said Friday., Kaori Sakamoto, who won three straight world titles in women's figure skating from 2022-24, has decided to retire from competition after the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics.. Sakamoto made an announcement on Friday, June 20 in her hometown of Kobe. She revealed her plans during the opening ceremony at the Sysmex Kobe Ice Campus, a new ice rink set to open to the public on July 12., Kaori Sakamoto (坂本花織, Sakamoto Kaori; born April 9, 2000) is a Japanese figure skater.She is the 2022 Olympic bronze medalist, a 2022 Olympic team event silver medalist, [a] a three-time World champion (2022-2024), the 2025 World silver medalist, the 2018 Four Continents champion, the 2023–24 Grand Prix Final champion, the 2024-25 Grand Prix Final bronze medalist, an eleven-time ISU , The Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic season will be Sakamoto Kaori ’s last dance.. Japan’s 25-year-old, two-time Olympic medallist and three-time world champion made the stunning announcement on Friday (20 June) that she will retire from competitive figure skating following the fast-approaching season leading up to the Games. “I feel like there is less than one year to go with my career , Japanese figure skater Kaori Sakamoto, winner of three consecutive world championships through 2024, said Friday she will retire from competition after next year's Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. The 25-year-old, who claimed women's singles bronze at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games, finished second at the world championships in Boston in March., Tokyo (AFP) – Japan's three-time world figure skating champion Kaori Sakamoto said Friday she will retire after the Winter Olympics in February. Issued on: 20/06/2025 - 09:49 Modified: 20/06 .