Winter Olympics 2026: Japan’s Sakamoto Kaori a close second heading into “last dance” free skate for women’s figure skating gold

One more skate on Thursday (19 February) and it’s all over for Sakamoto Kaori, who will try to overcome a gap of 1.48 as the three-time Olympic medallist tries to win the elusive gold in her final Olympic appearance.

“It doesn’t feel like this is the end,” Japan’s three-time world champion told Olympics.com on Tuesday following the women’s short program of the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 that left her in second place on 77.23, behind only 17-year-old teammate Nakai Ami.

“But it’s all going to be decided the day after tomorrow. I think if I focus on myself and skate the way I’m capable of skating, I should be happy with the outcome.

“I’m just going to try to have fun until the very end.”

Skating to Time to Say Goodbye, the 25-year-old produced a strong showing in her penultimate Olympic performance as the crowd at the Milano Ice Skating Arena rallied behind her.

She hit her opening triple lutz and a double Axel, followed by a triple flip-triple toe loop combo and received level fours on her spins and step sequence.

Sakamoto was only bettered by the fearless Nakai, who smashed her Games debut with a personal best of 78.71.

The top nine skaters were separated by eight points so it is all to play for, and Sakamoto is well positioned to top the podium – though it will be very close.

She owns the world lead in both the free skating (150.13) and the overall total (227.18) this season. But Nakai is right there, with a 149.08 and 227.08.

Yet no one will stop Sakamoto from having a blast in her last dance.

“Not going to lie, I was a little bit nervous, but I had fun skating out there today,” she said. “I’m really, really happy with the performance. I was having so much fun I couldn’t stop myself from laughing during the skate.

“The lutz wasn’t perfect but I managed to hang on to it. I didn’t make any huge mistakes until the very end, so I thought I was OK.”