Figure skating-Sakamoto closes glittering career with fourth world title

PRAGUE, March 27 : Japan's Kaori Sakamoto delivered the skate of her life to end her glittering career on the highest possible note, capturing a fourth world figure skating title on Friday in her final competitive appearance.

Sakamoto, who lost Olympic gold to American Alysa Liu last month by less than a point, did not put a foot wrong in scoring career-best scores of 158.97 points for her free skate to Edith Piaf's "Non, je ne regrette rien" and 238.28 overall.

The 25-year-old, who plans to pursue a coaching career, broke down in tears when the music stopped. 

Japan's Mone Chiba won silver with a score of 228.47, while Nina Pinzarrone of Belgium scored 215.20 for bronze in a field missing Liu.

Earlier on Friday, Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron of France put themselves within touching distance of a first world title, leading after the rhythm dance as they cap a dazzling debut season.

Fournier Beaudry and Cizeron, the only newly minted Olympic champions competing in Prague across the four skating disciplines, scored a season's best 92.74 points for their routine to Madonna's "Vogue".

"It was magic," Cizeron said. "It is a crazy atmosphere at the rink, it gives me butterflies, first of excitement and then of gratitude for being here. We've delivered a beautiful performance, more relaxed than at the Games. The points followed."

Olympic bronze medallists Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier of Canada head into Saturday's free dance in second place with 86.45, while Britain's Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson are third with 85.09.

Milan Olympic silver medallists and triple world champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the U.S. skipped this week's competition.

Fournier Beaudry and Cizeron teamed up at this time last year, with