Japan's Sakamoto three-peats as women's figure skating world champion

Japan’s Sakamoto three-peats as women’s figure skating world champion

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Kaori Sakamoto, of Japan, reacts following her free skate at the world figure skating championships Friday, March 22, 2024, in Montreal. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Isabeau Levito of the United States reacts following her free skate in the women’s competition at the figure skating world championships in Montreal, Friday, March 22, 2024. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Kaori Sakamoto of Japan performs her free skate in the women’s competition at the figure skating world championships in Montreal, Friday, March 22, 2024. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Isabeau Levito of the United States performs her free skate in the women’s competition at the figure skating world championships in Montreal, Friday, March 22, 2024. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Amber Glenn of the United States performs her free skate in the women’s competition at the figure skating world championships in Montreal, Friday, March 22, 2024. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Amber Glenn, of the United States, performs her free skate at the world figure skating championships Friday, March 22, 2024, in Montreal. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Madison Chock and Evan Bates, of the United States, perform their rhythm dance in the ice dance competition at the figure skating world championships in Montreal, Friday, March 22, 2024. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the United States perform their rhythm dance in the ice dance competition at the figure skating world championships in Montreal, Friday, March 22, 2024. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the United States react following their rhythm dance in the ice dance competition at the figure skating world championships in Montreal, Friday, March 22, 2024. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson of Britain perform their rhythm dance in the ice dance competition at the figure skating world championships in Montreal, Friday, March 22, 2024. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson of Britain perform their rhythm dance in the ice dance competition at the figure skating world championships in Montreal, Friday, March 22, 2024. Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri, of Italy, perform their rhythm dance in the ice dance competition at the figure skating world championships in Montreal, Friday, March 22, 2024. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

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MONTREAL (AP) — Kaori Sakamoto of Japan is the first women’s figure skater to three-peat as world champion since American Peggy Fleming from 1966 to 1968.

Sakamoto captured gold again Friday at the Bell Centre, climbing from fourth place after the short program to the top of the podium with a near-flawless performance.

The 23-year-old led the pack by more than 10 points in the free program to finish with 222.96 points and earn a standing ovation from the 6,000 fans on hand.

Isabeau Levito of the United States — a 2022 world junior champion — claimed silver (212.16) for her first medal at a senior worlds. Chaeyeon Kim of South Korea took bronze (203.59).

Belgium’s Loena Hendrickx placed first in the short program Wednesday, but slipped to fourth after missing her rotation on a double lutz, triple-toe loop combination and subsequently falling on a triple flip.

American Amber Glenn was 10th (186.53), after placing ninth on Wednesday.

Earlier Friday, defending ice dance champions and 2022 Olympic gold medalists Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the United States finished first with a season-best 90.08 in the rhythm dance. Italy’s Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri were second (87.52) ahead of Canada’s Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier (86.51).

Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko of the United States qualified with an eight-place finish (79.26).

Competition ends Saturday with the free dance and the men’s free program.

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AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports