pingu

figure skating: senior men, senior & junior ladies; occasionally a yuzuru hanyu blog

[figureskatingpenguin]

2026 Milano Cortina Olympics | Women's Figure Skating Podium

Alysa Liu (USA), the reigning World champion who had previously retired for two years, claims the Olympic gold medal to complete her outstanding comeback into the sport. Meanwhile, three-time World champion Kaori Sakamoto (JPN) becomes the first-ever Japanese woman to win multiple Olympic medals in figure skating by clinching silver. Ami Nakai (JPN), who had previously led the short program segment, crowns her debut senior season with Olympic bronze.

[sakamotokaori]

"Kaori Sakamoto saved Women's Figure Skating. She saved it. Because she was the shining star in the dark cloud of Beijing, and then she pushed every woman in the world to skate better. She pushed every woman in the world to jump higher, to jump further across the ice on their double Axels. And frankly, to be nicer to each other too. She sets the tone. She sets that tone we're talking about with the way they treat each other. I think her legacy is going to be so multifaceted, but the fact that she will be leaving this figure skating world a better place than what she found is amazing. Amazing." - Adam Rippon, Ashley Wagner and Sarah Hughes via The Runthrough podcast

Happy retirement to the four-time Olympic medalist, four-time World Champion and six-time National Champion, Kaori Sakamoto! ♡

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Satoko Miyahara: Paris is Burning » 2026 Notte Stellata

[sakamotokaori]

past program references in kaori sakamoto's a million dreams ☆

[sakamotokaori]

mone chiba ☆ last dance at worlds 2026

[unoqlo]

Younghyun Cha, Reel Around the Sun / 2026 World Championships (-)

[sakamotokaori]

Kaori Sakamoto entering the rink for her final six minute warm up at the 2026 World Figure Skating Championships

[sakamotokaori]

kaori sakamoto ♡ la vie en rose, hymne à l'amour, non, je ne regrette rien ♡ worlds 2026

[unoqlo]

"Mone Chiba stands; we all stand in utter adoration of Kaori Sakamoto. The lyrics 'Je ne regrette rien'—I regret nothing—she has nothing now to regret; the best she has ever skated in her final World Championships, and thank goodness now it's tears of joy, not the tears of sadness from Milan. I hope she knows now what this means to all of us lovers of skating and lovers of her."

Commentator Mark Hanretty on Kaori Sakamoto's final competitive skate | 2026 World Championships (-)

[sakamotokaori]

☆☆☆

[figureskatingpenguin]

Wakaba Higuchi: Through the Years

Wishing a well-deserved and happy retirement to our one and only Wonder Woman, Lion Queen, and 007 agent Wakabond!

Announcing the end of her competitive skating career, Wakaba stated:

"I have retired from competitive figure skating after 22 years. Today is March 9, Thank You Day. With gratitude to everyone who has supported me until now, thank you so much for all the support and encouragement. From now on, I will move forward with a new life as a professional skater and member of society. I want to work even harder to show even more entertaining skating in ice shows. I also want to keep taking on new challenges, so please continue to support me."

Featured Programs: 1: "Never Tear Us Apart" from the 2023 Japanese Nationals, SP 2: "Your Song" from the 2022 Beijing Olympics, SP 3: "Wonder Woman" from the 2025 Japanese Nationals, FS 4: "Skyfall" from the 2017 Cup of China, FS 5: "Lion King" from the 2021 Japanese Nationals, FS 6: "Bird Set Free" from the 2019 Skate America, SP 7: "Nature Boy / Running Up That Hill" from the 2024 GPF, FS 8: "Energia" from the 2018 CS Autumn Classic, SP 9: "Dune" from the 2024 GPF, SP

[pirenas]

Alysa Liu wearing Louis Vuitton at the 2026 Vanity Fair Oscar Party

[rikakihira]

YIHAN WANG Snow Above the Earth, 2026 Junior World Championships

[sakamotokaori]

rio nakata ☆ 4S (+4.30 GOE) ☆ junior worlds 2026

[geurujam]

Alysa Liu for TEEN VOGUE (March 2026)

[figureskatingpenguin]

Rio Nakata (JPN): Aroul / Uccen | 2026 Junior World Championships, SP

Reigning Junior World champion Rio Nakata breaks Ilia Malinin's junior short program world record, scoring 89.51!

[sakamotokaori]

minkyu seo ☆ moonlight sonata at junior worlds 2026