FIGURE SKATING
Superb Sakamoto (JPN) has no regrets as she soars to NHK Trophy title and into ISU Grand Prix Final
08 Nov 2025
Three-time ISU World Champion Kaori Sakamoto (JPN) soared to another spectacular gold as competition at the ISU Grand Prix NHK Trophy in Osaka (JPN) wrapped up Saturday with a great Women’s Free Skating event.
Kaori Sakamoto (JPN) claims eighth ISU Grand Prix title
Three-time ISU World Champion Sakamoto cruised to her fourth NHK Trophy win with a spectacular performance, taking gold with 27 points to spare. Kazakhstan’s Sofia Samodelkina skated off with the silver on her ISU Grand Prix debut while 2024 ISU European Champion Loena Hendrickx of Belgium continued her comeback by picking up the bronze.
Overnight leader Sakamoto skated last and the pressure was on after her competitors had given excellent performances, but the Japanese star delivered and made her home crowd in the sold-out Towa Pharmaceutical Ractab Dome proud.
Skating to the Edith Piaf classics “La vie en rose”, “Hymne à l’amour” and “Je ne regrette rien”, the 2025 ISU World silver medalist hit six clean triple jumps as well as level-four spins and footwork. She was still completing her final spin when the spectators rose for a standing ovation. Sakamoto achieved a season’s best of 150.13 points and totaled 227.18 points to score a runaway victory.
Kaori Sakamoto (JPN) won her fourth NHK Trophy gold, receiving a standing ovation from her home crowd in Osaka in her final competitive season. © ISU
“To be honest, I am very relieved,” Sakamoto said. “I’m in a pretty good condition but still, if I make a mistake, I tend to lose my concentration.
“I was actually worried that my errors from the practice will continue on but I was able to win the title and I’ll go to the ISU Grand Prix Final, so I’m very happy.
“The name of the third song in my Free Skating is ‘I have no regrets’ and that also stands for everything I have done for 22 years – I have absolutely no regrets,” added Sakamoto, who plans to retire from competitive skating after this season.
With gold and silver from her two events in Japan and France, Sakamoto has qualified for her fifth ISU Grand Prix Final.
Samodelkina had surprised herself by coming second in the Short Program but she would surprise herself even more by winning the silver medal in her very first ISU Grand Prix.
Her performance to “Sunset Boulevard” was highlighted by six strong triple jumps, only the second triple flip was wobbly. The 18-year-old netted 132.25 points and ranked third in the Free Skating but remained in second place overall at 200.00 points.
Sofia Samodelkina (KAZ) skated to silver on her ISU Grand Prix debut, although as it stands she has no second Grand Prix event lined up. © ISU
“I didn’t expect this because I had mistakes,” Samodelkina commented. “When I saw the second place I was so excited, I hugged my coaches and doctor. This silver medal is a really good motivation for me to keep going.”
Samodelkina got 13 points from this event but so far has only one Grand Prix assignment.
“My coach told me maybe I’ll get a chance for a second Grand Prix. For now, my next competition will be a Challenger Series event maybe in Zagreb or in Tallinn,” she noted.
Hendrickx was ranked fourth in the Short Program and came out determined to do better. Performing to “La Alegria” by Yasmin Levy, the two-time ISU World medalist produced five clean triple jumps and collected a level four for her spins and the step sequence. Hendrickx was second in the Free Skating with 136.52 points to move up to third at 198.97 points. It was a successful comeback to the ISU Grand Prix for the Belgian who had missed the past season due to injury and subsequent surgery.
Loena Hendrickx (BEL) continued her recovery from surgery, with the bronze medal giving her a chance of making the ISU Grand Prix Final. © ISU
“After my Short Program, I was very disappointed,” Hendrickx shared. “I didn’t skate like I was supposed to and like in practice but what got me though was the support of the fans.
“I had a pretty good free, so thank you for the support and the love for skating.”
The successful comeback is meaningful for the two-time Olympian.
“I knew that going through surgery at the beginning of the year was very risky but it was that or knowing I’ll never skate on high level again. I prepared super hard to do the best I can but I know I can do better. I’ll keep that in mind and hope to do better in the next competitions,” Hendrickx said.
Hendrickx picked up 11 points for the Grand Prix standings and has a chance to fight for a spot in the Final in two weeks at her second event Finlandia Trophy in Helsinki (FIN).
Samodelkina, Sakamoto and Hendrickx display their NHK Trophy medals. © ISU
Young You (KOR) turned in an excellent performance as well but was edged off the podium by just 0.15 points, slipping from third to fourth place on 198.82 points. Sarah Everhardt (USA) came fifth on 186.89 points followed by Yuna Aoki (JPN) at 183.31 points.
The schedule of the ISU Grand Prix Skate NHK Trophy is as follows:
Friday, November 7: Rhythm Dance, Pairs, Men’s & Women’s Short Programs
Saturday, November 8: Free Dance, Pairs, Men’s & Women’s Free Skating
Sunday, November 9: Exhibition Gala
ISU Grand Prix Standings
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For full entry lists and further information regarding the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series please visit here.
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The schedules of each ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating event are available below:
17 - 19 Oct 2025 Grand Prix de France in Angers (FRA)
24 - 26 Oct 2025 Cup of China in Chongqing (CHN)
31 Oct - 2 Nov 2025 Skate Canada International in Saskatoon (CAN)
7 - 9 Nov 2025 NHK Trophy in Osaka (JPN)
14- 16 Nov 2025 Skate America in Lake Placid (USA)
21 - 23 Nov 2025 Finlandia Trophy in Helsinki (FIN)
The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final:
4 - 7 Dec 2025 Nagoya (JPN)
