Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto retained the figure skating world title with a stellar performance in Montreal on Friday and became the first woman to win three straight crowns since American Peggy Fleming in 1968.
Sakamoto was in fourth place after the short program, but the 23-year-old’s dazzling free skate to “Wild Is The Wind/Feeling Good” by Lauryn Hill helped her match 1968 Olympic champion Fleming, who won three world titles between 1966-68.
Beijing Olympics bronze medallist Sakamoto’s run began with a double axel and a triple Lutz, before a series of intricate combination jumps brought thunderous applause from the crowd at the Bell Centre.
“I was fourth in the short program, so I was a little anxious about that, but today I was in a really good place emotionally,” said Sakamoto, who finished with 222.96 points. “I was able to calm down today. I was able to keep focused and do my elements one after the other and I am happy with this result.”
American Isabeau Levito, a world junior champion in 2022, won silver with a score of 212.16 while Chaeyeon Kim of South Korea took bronze with 203.59.
Belgium’s Loena Hendrickx, who led after the short program, finished fourth after falling while attempting a triple flip.
Earlier on Friday, veteran ice dance duo Madison Chock and Evan Bates scored a 90.08 for their rhythm dance routine at the world championships, putting the Americans on the cusp of a second consecutive world title.
Source : https://www.reuters.com/sports/americans-chock-bates-grab-lead-world-championships-2024-03-23
