Three-time world champion Kaori Sakamoto delivered a flawless free skate to retain her title in what she revealed would be her final NHK Trophy appearance. Announcing her retirement after the upcoming Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, Sakamoto aimed to dazzle at her hometown Grand Prix in Osaka, Japan. Performing to music by Edith Piaf, Sakamoto executed seven triple jumps, securing a Grand Prix season-high score of 227.18.
Expressing her joy, Sakamoto stated, “It was a wonderful experience to perform in front of my hometown fans. 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 in Nagoya, Japan, scheduled for December 4-7.
Teen skater Sofia Samodelkina from Kazakhstan, making her Grand Prix debut, claimed second place with 200 points, followed by Loena Hendrickx from Belgium. Canadian skater Katherine Medland Spence from Ottawa, the sole Canadian participant, finished 11th out of 12 skaters in her Grand Prix debut, scoring 146.63 points.
Skating to “La Alegria,” Loena Hendrickx, the 2024 European Champion, landed six clean triple jumps, accumulating a total of 198.97 points. Hendrickx made a strong return to the Grand Prix series after a season off due to ankle surgery in February.
In men’s singles, Yuma Kagiyama, the 2022 Olympic silver medalist, overcame an early mistake to secure his third consecutive NHK Trophy victory. Despite a fall on his quadruple toe loop, Kagiyama executed all other jumps flawlessly, finishing with an overall score of 287.24. His compatriot Shun Sato, the Cup of China winner, landed three perfect quad jumps, achieving a personal-best score of 189.04 in the free skate for a total of 285.71.
British ice dance pair Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson, the world bronze medalists, clinched the gold medal with a total score of 205.88, sealing their spot in the Grand Prix Final. Italians Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii triumphed in the pairs event, outshining the 2022 Olympic champions Sui Wenjing and Han Cong of China to claim the gold medal.
The International Skating Union has permitted Russian figure skater Adeliia Petrosian to compete in Milan-Cortina as a neutral athlete, focusing on the men’s and women’s competitions. Petrosian, 18, has secured two consecutive national titles and remains undefeated over the past two seasons, showcasing exceptional skills with triple axels and quads, a feat unmatched by other female skaters this year.
These remarkable performances set the stage for an enthralling season, leading up to the Grand Prix Final and the Winter Olympics in the coming months.