“Kaori is always going forward and always wants to try new things. I’m a
choreographer, not a technical coach, but I said, ‘Can we try a double
axel/triple toe/triple toe?’ and boom, she did it from the first time.

“I said to her, ‘Are you able to do 10 double axels?’ and it was more like a
game from me, and she just did it also the first time.”

Richaud feels challenging skaters brings out the best in them.

“I just try to use little things like that, a little experience, and it looks like
a game, but it’s really not,” Richaud said. “It just shows you who she is.
She’s a fighter. When I ask her something that looks like a game and it’s
not, she takes it seriously and does it.”

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/03/05/figure-skating/rising-choreographer-benoit-richaud-says-kaori-sakamoto-good-form-ahead-worlds/#.XH9gIS3AM0R