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Japanese star Kaori Sakamoto delivered one of skating’s most moving programs of all time in the team event.
February 6, 2026 10:22 PM
4 min
Summary
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Japanese figure skater Kaori Sakamoto placed first in the women's single skating short program portion of the team event on Friday. (Stephanie Scarbrough/Associated Press)
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Analysis by Robert Samuels
MILAN — If there is a single enduring image to come out of these Olympic Games, it might be this one: a Japanese icon in a blue dress spinning in the center of the ice, her hand floating in the air while the lyrics to “Time to Say Goodbye” swoon overhead.
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On Friday, Kaori Sakamoto waved off detractors from the start of her career while thanking the legions of fans that she has captured over three Olympic cycles. The reigning bronze medalist has said these Games will be her last. They might also be her best.
Sakamoto outperformed and outjumped her competition in the short program on the first day of the team event, clearing a talented field that included reigning world champion and American Alysa Liu, and putting Japan within striking distance of overtaking the United States for the lead in the competition’s next phase.
Sakamoto has been uncharacteristically inconsistent this season, but the nerves settled enough Friday for her to deliver one of skating’s most moving programs of all time.
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