The Olympic women’s figure skating competition opened with a striking display of talent and depth on Tuesday at the Milano Ice Skating Arena in Milan Cortina 2026. Japan immediately made its presence felt, claiming three of the top four positions in the short program, while the United States remained firmly in the hunt for a medal.
Seventeen-year-old Ami Nakai stole the spotlight in her Olympic debut, delivering a poised and technically strong program to earn a short program lead with 78.71 points. Nakai showcased a confident triple Axel among other jumps, impressing judges and fans alike with her polished presentation and composure under pressure.
Following closely behind was Japan’s seasoned star Kaori Sakamoto, the reigning Olympic bronze medalist and three-time world champion. Sakamoto earned 77.23 points with a high-energy rendition of Time to Say Goodbye, highlighting her trademark speed and power. Her program components score was the highest of the night, keeping her firmly in contention heading into Thursday’s free skate.
Alysa Liu represented Team USA with a calm and focused performance, earning 76.59 points to place third. Returning to Olympic competition after a hiatus following the Beijing Games, Liu demonstrated poise and technical consistency, positioning herself as the U.S.’s leading medal hopeful.
Mone Chiba rounded out Japan’s strong showing, placing fourth with 74.00 points. The world bronze medalist rebounded from recent challenges with a solid performance that reminded the field of her competitive edge. Competing as an Individual Neutral Athlete, Adeliya Petrosian placed fifth, delivering one of the strongest technical performances of the night.
The women’s figure skating competition will continue with the free skate on Thursday, February 19, at 1 p.m. ET, with coverage available on NBC and streaming via Peacock and NBCOlympics.com. The field is set for an exciting conclusion, with multiple skaters poised to challenge for Olympic glory.
