Kaori Sakamoto Makes History with Third World Title

Kaori Sakamoto of Japan has etched her name in figure skating history, becoming the first woman since Peggy Fleming (1966-1968) to win three consecutive World Championships.

At the Bell Centre in Montreal, Sakamoto delivered a near-flawless performance in the free program, propelling her from fourth place after the short program to the top of the podium. Her captivating performance earned her a standing ovation from the 6,000 spectators and a score of 222.96 points, a significant 10-point lead over the competition.

Isabeau Levito of the United States, the 2022 World Junior Champion, secured the silver medal with a score of 212.16, marking her first medal at the senior World Championships. Chaeyeon Kim of South Korea rounded out the podium with a bronze medal, scoring 203.59 points.

Earlier in the competition, defending ice dance champions and Olympic gold medalists Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the United States maintained their dominance, finishing first in the rhythm dance with a season-best score of 90.08. Italy's Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri followed closely behind in second place with 87.52 points, while Canada's Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier secured the bronze with 86.51 points.

The World Figure Skating Championships conclude on Saturday with the men's free program and the free dance competition.