Kaori Sakamoto of Japan is the first female figure skater to win three consecutive championships since Peggy Fleming of the United States from 1966 to 1968.
Sakamoto won gold again at the Bell Center on Friday, with a near-flawless performance that climbed from fourth place after the short program to the top of the podium.
The 23-year-old led by more than 10 points in the floor event, finishing with 222.96 points and earning a standing ovation from the 6,000 fans in attendance.
The 2022 World Youth Champion, Isabeau Levito of the United States, won silver (212.16), her first medal at the senior worlds. Chaey-eon Kim of South Korea won the bronze medal (203.59).
Belgium’s Loena Hendrickx was first in the short program on Wednesday, but slipped to fourth after missing a rotation of a double Lutz, triple toe loop combination and then falling during a triple somersault. .
American Amber Glenn was 10th (186.53), down from ninth on Wednesday.
Earlier Friday, defending ice dance champion and 2022 Olympic gold medalist Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the United States scored a season-high 90.08 points in the rhythm dance competition. First place. Italy’s Charlene Gignard and Marco Fabbri were second (87.52), ahead of Canada’s Piper Giles and Paul Poirier (86.51).
Americans Christina Carrera and Antoni Ponomarenko qualified with an eighth-place finish (79.26).
The competition concludes on Saturday with the free dance and men’s free program.
