Teen Sensation Nakai Stuns in Olympic Women's Figure Skating Showdown
Ami Nakai has sent shockwaves through the Milano Ice Skating Arena, capturing the spotlight in what could become one of the most memorable moments in Olympic women’s figure skating history. At just 17, Nakai, the youngest competitor in the field, delivered a commanding short program that placed her at the very top, ahead of seasoned champions and setting the stage for an electrifying free skate on Thursday.
Nakai opened her routine with a breathtaking triple axel, followed by a triple lutz-triple toeloop combination and a flawless triple loop. Her performance, set to the classic score from La Strada , combined technical precision with infectious energy, earning her a personal best of 78.71 points. It’s a remarkable feat for a skater who has just started competing on the world stage this season and it immediately shook up expectations for the medal race.
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Close behind her is Japan’s veteran Kaori Sakamoto. At 25, Sakamoto is skating in her final season and her short program to Andrea Bocelli’s Time to Say Goodbye showcased her elegance and mastery. Though she landed high-value elements including a triple lutz and double axel, slight under-rotations on a triple lutz and a triple flip-triple toe combo kept her narrowly behind Nakai, scoring 77.23. Completing Japan’s potential podium sweep is Mone Chiba, currently in fourth, just points shy of the medals. For Japan, a historic sweep is within reach and the free skate promises to be a spectacle of national pride and elite performance.
The United States’ hopes rest largely with Alysa Liu, who delivered a near-perfect short program to Promise by Laufey and Dan Wilson. The 20-year-old world champion showcased her trademark style, but a minor under-rotation on her triple lutz kept her in third, trailing the Japanese trio. Teammates Isabeau Levito and Amber Glenn faced tougher nights—Levito fell to eighth, while Glenn, after a popped triple loop, dropped to 13th, leaving their medal chances in jeopardy.
Adeliia Petrosian, skating as an individual neutral athlete due to her country’s Olympic ban, also remains a contender. The 18-year-old Russian champion delivered a clean performance to a Michael Jackson medley, scoring 72.89 and putting herself within striking distance of the podium. Her free skate may prove decisive in what has already become a thrilling contest between emerging stars and seasoned veterans.
This free skate isn’t just a competition—it’s a defining moment in the sport. Nakai’s rise, Sakamoto’s farewell, Liu’s comeback and Petrosian’s quiet challenge make this a showdown with global eyes watching. The medals will tell more than who skates the best; they will mark a shift in figure skating, highlighting the next generation while honoring those leaving the ice.
Stay with us as the action unfolds and witness history in the making at Milan-Cortina 2026.
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