The new figure skating season is set to deliver one of the most emotional and competitive narratives in recent memory. On one side stands Kaori Sakamoto, Japan’s three-time world champion, who has announced she will retire after the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics. On the other side is Alysa Liu, the American prodigy whose comeback story culminated in a world title in 2025. 

Their rivalry now frames the 2025–26 Grand Prix circuit and the countdown to the Winter Games. For Sakamoto, the decision to retire adds dramatic weight to every competition she enters. After dominating the sport with her powerful jumps, consistent skating, and undeniable artistry, she is now skating not just for medals but for legacy. Fans in Japan and around the world see each of her upcoming performances as part of a farewell tour leading to what could be a golden final chapter at the Olympics.

Meanwhile, Alysa Liu has rewritten her own narrative. After shocking the skating world by retiring in 2022, Liu returned in spectacular fashion, capturing the 2025 World Championship in Boston. At just 19, she became the first American woman in nearly two decades to claim the crown, showcasing maturity, elegance, and technical brilliance beyond her years.

Liu’s presence injects excitement into every competition she enters and presents the greatest challenge to Sakamoto’s farewell dream. The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating assignments ensure both stars will headline marquee events leading into Olympic qualification. Sakamoto and Liu are set to clash at multiple competitions, where each result will shape momentum and narrative heading into Milano-Cortina.

For the athletes, these events are not just warm-ups—they are psychological battles that will influence Olympic confidence. Adding to the excitement, the men’s field also promises unprecedented innovation. Ilia Malinin, the reigning American star, continues to push the boundaries of the sport. After landing record-breaking quadruple jumps, Malinin is preparing to showcase the backflip—a move once banned but now legalized for official competition.

His daring performances highlight how figure skating is evolving, blending athleticism and artistry in ways that captivate global audiences. Beyond the ice, the rivalry between Sakamoto and Liu resonates as a larger story of passing the torch. For Sakamoto, it is about closing her career on her own terms, proving once more why she is one of the most decorated skaters in history. For Liu, it is about seizing the moment and carrying the future of women’s figure skating into a new era.

With the Grand Prix season about to begin, fans are guaranteed unforgettable performances, emotional farewells, and potentially historic breakthroughs. The road to Milano-Cortina has officially begun, and the stage is set for figure skating to shine as one of the defining narratives of the Winter Olympics.