Three-time world champion Kaori Sakamoto showcased a nearly flawless free skate to retain her title at what she declared to be her final NHK Trophy appearance. Having announced her retirement plans post the upcoming Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, Sakamoto was focused on delivering a compelling performance at her home Grand Prix event in Osaka, Japan. Skating to music by Edith Piaf, Sakamoto executed seven triple jumps, securing a Grand Prix season-high score of 227.18, surpassing all competitors.
Expressing her joy at performing in her hometown, Sakamoto stated, “This was an international competition near my local fans, and I am thrilled to have delivered such a strong performance.” With a second-place finish at the Grand Prix de France, Sakamoto earned a spot in the Grand Prix Final scheduled for December 4-7 in Nagoya, Japan.
Teenager Sofia Samodelkina from Kazakhstan, making her Grand Prix debut, clinched the second spot with 200 points, followed by Loena Hendrickx from Belgium. Ottawa’s Katherine Medland Spence, the sole Canadian participant, finished eleventh out of twelve skaters in her Grand Prix debut with a total of 146.63 points.
Skating to “La Alegria,” Loena Hendrickx, the 2024 European Champion, executed six clean triple jumps to amass a total of 198.97 points. Hendrickx made a strong comeback to the Grand Prix series following a hiatus due to right ankle surgery in February.
In the men’s singles category, Yuma Kagiyama, the 2022 Olympic silver medalist, overcame an early mistake to clinch his third consecutive NHK Trophy title. Despite a fall on his quadruple toe loop, Kagiyama executed all other jumps flawlessly, finishing with an overall score of 287.24. Kagiyama’s compatriot Shun Sato, who emerged victorious at the Cup of China last month, delivered a stellar performance landing three flawless quad jumps, earning a personal best of 189.04 in the free skate and a total of 285.71. Sato’s performance secured his spot in the upcoming GP Final in Nagoya.
British ice dance duo, Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson, the world bronze medalists, claimed the ice dance gold medal with an overall score of 205.88, ensuring their qualification for the Grand Prix Final. Meanwhile, Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii from Italy outshone the 2022 Olympic champions Sui Wenjing and Han Cong of China to clinch the pairs gold medal at the NHK Trophy.
The International Skating Union’s decision to allow Russian figure skater Adeliia Petrosian to compete as a neutral in Milan-Cortina poses a formidable challenge for Japan’s top contender, Kaori Sakamoto, heading into the Winter Olympics. Petrosian, the 18-year-old Russian skater with two consecutive national titles, has showcased impressive performances, including executing triple axels and quads consistently, setting her apart from her competitors.