Boston plays host to the World Figure Skating Championships, a prestigious event that has captured the attention of skating fans worldwide. Among the standout competitors is Kaori Sakamoto, 24, who is aiming to achieve an extraordinary feat: her fourth consecutive title. If successful, this would place Sakamoto among the elite group of female skaters who have managed such an accomplishment in the history of the sport.
Sakamoto took to the ice at TD Garden for official practice on March 26, 2025, ahead of her short program performance due to start on March 27 at 1:05 AM Japan time. In this session, she showcased her talents by landing a double axel (2.5 rotations), a triple lutz, and an impressive trifecta with a flip-toe loop combination. "I feel relieved after successfully completing the program. Everything went as planned," Sakamoto expressed, highlighting her readiness for the competition.
This year, Sakamoto’s training has focused on appreciating the content of her performances rather than just the results, realizing that to achieve her best, she needs to keep her eyes fixed on outcomes. "After finishing second at the Winter Asian Games in February, I understood that to skate like myself, I need to win against my own doubts and fears," she noted, reinforcing her ambitions to reclaim the World Championships title. "By securing a strong result, I believe we can pave the way to greater achievements moving forward. My goal is to approach this championship as just the beginning, building on last year's successes to aim high this time around."
The need for strong performances is amplified by the fact that these championships also serve as qualifiers for the upcoming Milano-Cortina Olympics in February 2026. To secure the maximum of three Olympic spots for Japan, the combined ranking of the top two Japanese skaters or pairs must total 13 or less. Sakamoto not only has her own title at stake, but she is also representing her country in the Olympic qualifying effort.
Adding depth to the competition are fellow Japanese competitors Mone Chiba, 19, and Wakaba Higuchi, 24, both of whom are strong contenders in their own right. During her practice, Chiba successfully landed all three of her jumps for the short program, a significant rebound after battling gastrointestinal issues that kept her from performing at her best during the Four Continents Championships earlier in February, where she placed sixth. "I am healthy now and ready to give it my all," Chiba said, expressing her determination to improve on last season’s seventh-place finish.
Higuchi, meanwhile, exhibited her own competitive spirit by landing all planned jumps in her practice. Preparing for her fourth appearance at this prestigious event, she aims to keep her focus squarely on her performances rather than the scores, stating, "If I do my best, the results will follow. I want to keep things natural without overthinking it." This balanced approach indicates her readiness to embrace the pressure of the global stage.
The men's and pairs' short programs alongside the women's short programs will commence on the first day of competition on March 26 (March 27 Japan time). The pairs event, featuring Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, is also under close scrutiny as they look to reclaim the title they last held. Last season, Kihara battled a lumbar disc herniation, limiting their performance, but both athletes are back to health and eager to excel this year.
In the Grand Prix Final, the Miura/Kihara duo secured a second-place finish, narrowly trailing behind the German team Haze and Volodin by 11.39 points, illuminating the fierce nature of this championship.
The stakes are high, not merely for individual glory, but for the potential to secure Olympic spots. Notably, for the Japanese athletes, a top-two finish in singles or pairs can yield a hopeful three Olympic spots if their combined rank remains under 13.
This year's World Championships are a culmination of immense efforts by the athletes as they strive not just for championships, but also for the Olympics—where everything from performance to mental fortitude will be tested on the ice.
As the 2025 World Figure Skating Championships unfold, the excitement is palpable, with competitors like Sakamoto set to make history and chase their Olympic dreams, all while keeping the spirits high for Japan in the quest for Olympic glory. The competition promises thrilling performances as skaters aim to put their best foot forward in the days to come.
