The 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympic season will mark Kaori Sakamoto's "final performance." The 25-year-old figure skater from Japan has won two Olympic medals and three World Championship titles. On June 20 (Friday), she made a stunning announcement that she will officially retire after the upcoming Olympic season, concluding her competitive career.

Three-time World Figure Skating Champion Kaori Sakamoto has announced that she will retire after her third Olympic journey, hoping to end on a high note.

"I feel like my athletic career has less than a year left," Sakamoto told the media during the opening ceremony of the new rink in Kobe. "I started preparing choreography for the upcoming challenges back in May and June. I told myself that instead of dragging it out for another two or three years, it’s better to end it now." "If I were to stick around for another four years, I would be 29, and I don't think that's feasible. I want to conclude my career when I turn 26 during this season."

Kaori Sakamoto: The decision came "very decisively" — "It's now or never!"

On this day, Kaori Sakamoto did not shed any tears. Instead, as always, she was all smiles and laughter.

Sakamoto began skating at the age of four and stated that she had already decided to retire after this season last year.

This decision did not keep her awake at night.

"It was a very decisive move," Sakamoto said, "I thought to myself, it's now or never!"

After officially hanging up her skates, Sakamoto plans to pursue a coaching career, hoping to nurture world-class skaters like herself in her hometown of Kobe.

Choosing to announce this significant decision in Kobe also reflects her deep connection to her hometown.

"The achievements I make now will help me kickstart my second career. If I perform well this season, it can also bring more attention to this rink and training system."

"I truly hope to cultivate a skater who can shine on the world stage from Kobe. In the remaining year, I want to give my all to lay the foundation for the future."

The Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics will be Kaori Sakamoto's third Olympic Games. She finished sixth at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics and won a bronze medal in singles and a silver in the team event at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.

Last season, she missed out on a fourth consecutive World Championship title in Boston. Her three World Championship gold medals tie her with Mao Asada for the most in Japanese history.

Sakamoto will aim to win her fifth national title at the national championships in December and secure her spot for the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.

For this "final flourish," Sakamoto is giving it her all.

"I want to unleash all my energy and maintain aggression as before. I hope to leave no regrets in every competition, so I will pursue perfection more than ever."

"If I can advance further in both the team and individual events compared to the last Olympics, surpassing the silver medal, that will be my mission accomplished."

"I just realized that there are eight months until the Olympics and only six months until the national competition. Time is short, and I want to cherish every day and pray for everything to go as planned."

"All that's left is to make it happen."