Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto concluded her competitive career in style, securing her fourth world title in the women’s singles at the Figure Skating World Championships held in Prague, Czechia on Friday.

At just 25 years old, Sakamoto delivered a personal-best score of 238.28 following an emotional free skate performance at the O2 Arena. This victory marks her place in history as she becomes the first women’s single skater to win four world championships since Michelle Kwan, who won her fifth in 2003.

The podium featured:

• Kaori Sakamoto (Japan) - 238.28
• Mone Chiba (Japan) - 228.47 (second place)
• Nina Pinzarrone (Belgium) - 215.20 (surprise bronze medalist)

Isabeau Levito from the US, the 2024 world silver medalist, finished in fourth, recovering from a 12th-place finish in her Olympic debut a month prior. Amber Glenn, who entered the free skate in third, fell to sixth after experiencing a pair of jumping errors.

Notably, Alysa Liu of the US withdrew from the competition after winning gold in Milan last month.

In the ice dance competition, the rhythm dance was also held on Friday, with French Olympic champions Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron leading after achieving a personal-best score of 92.74. They were followed by Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier of Canada in second at 86.45 and the British duo of Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson in third with 85.09.

Madison Chock and Evan Bates, American silver medalists, opted not to pursue their fourth consecutive world championship after narrowly missing out in Milan.