Sakamoto Kaori: The Grand Prix Series is “all a sequence”
“This Skate Canada will be a test for me to see how well I can score [and try to] “Winning the event,” Sakamoto said in Japanese in a translated interview.[Skate Canada] It’s the first step. “I will take what I learned here and then apply it to the Grand Prix in Finland (November 17-20).”
“It’s all a sequence, so I want to do well in Canada.”
Before arriving in Vancouver, Sakamoto made her intentions clear for the season: “I aim to make a three-peat at the Japanese National Championships and the World Championships,” Japanese media reported recently.
It’s been a great few weeks for Kaori, who started her season with wins in minor events before claiming victory in the Japan Open, a free skating-only event, was held earlier this month. She also made the trip home to collect another hard-earned prize: her college degree.
Her focus now is solely on skating: she wants to get a 75+ in the short program (her personal best is 80.32) and would like to equal or better her score in the free skate at the Japan Open, which was 149.59.
I had a slight setback going through that Lauryn Hill long medley program on Thursday (October 26) However, she fell on her opening double Axel attempt and slid into the boards, looking shaken.
“I had never had a fall like that before, so it shocked me,” she said. “Right now, if I try my best, I can make smooth rounds in practice. But if I make just one mistake, I get frustrated and then it all goes downhill from there.”
She added: “I’m at a point where I feel like I can’t afford to make a mistake. I tell myself I have to skate clean every time.”
Clean or not, Sakamoto is definitely the favorite. She is confronted by her Japanese compatriot Rinka Watanabethe surprise 2022 champion in the event, as well as the Canadians Madeleine Chisas And Kaya Reuter; 2022 silver medal Star Andrews From the United States in addition to the French veteran My Bernice Mitty And 16 years old Kim Chae-yeon From the Republic of Korea.
