Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Kaori Sakamoto also won the world title in 2022, 2023 and 2024
ByElizabeth HudsonBBC Sport Journalist- Published50 minutes ago
Japan's Kaori Sakamoto finished her career with a fourth women's individual title at the World Figure Skating Championships.
The 25-year-old, who won silver at last month's Winter Olympics, triumphed with a personal best score of 238.38 in Prague.
She is the first woman to win four individual titles since American Michelle Kwan, who claimed her fifth in 2003.
"There are no regrets at all. I can say goodbye with this performance. I gave it all I have," Sakamoto said.
Compatriot Mone Chiba, who finished fourth at the Olympics, won world silver with a score of 228.47, while Belgium's Nina Pinzarrone took bronze with 215.20.
Olympic champion Alysa Liu opted not to compete in the event, while fellow American Amber Glenn slipped from third to sixth during the free skate.
In the ice dance event, Britain's Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson are in third place after scoring 85.09 in the rhythm dance.
Olympic champions Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron lead on 92.74, ahead of Canada's Piper Gilles and Paul Poirie, the Olympic bronze medallists, on 86.45.
The medals will be decided in Saturday's free dance, which will be shown live on BBC iPlayer from 17:30 GMT.
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