Kaori Sakamoto’s retirement plans are mainly tied to age, timing, and career transition rather than a sudden injury or scandal. She said she feels her competitive window is closing, that continuing for several more years would be too much, and that she wants to end her career around age 26 after the 2026 Olympics.

What she has said

  • She told reporters in June 2025 that she felt she had “less than a year left” in competition.
  • She said that by the next Olympic cycle she would be older and that it would not be realistic for her to keep competing that long.
  • Her stated plan is to finish after the Milano-Cortina 2026 season and then move toward coaching.

Why this makes sense

Sakamoto is a three-time world champion and already an Olympic medalist, so her decision looks like a deliberate choice to close out a successful competitive era on her own terms. Reports also note that she has acknowledged aging and the physical demands of elite skating, which appears to be part of her reasoning.

Quick scoop

In short: she is retiring because she believes the timing is right, her peak competitive years are nearing their end, and she wants to transition into coaching after the 2026 Olympics.

If you want, I can also give you a 1-paragraph version for a post caption or a more detailed timeline of her announcement.