FIGURE SKATING
Nakai, Sakamoto, Liu all set to shine in grand Olympic Figure Skating finale
18 Feb 2026
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Ami Nakai of Japan leads the Women’s field ahead of the final Free Skating at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.
With prominent challengers on Nakai’s heels, the stage is set for a grand finale of the Olympic Figure Skating competition where a lot still can happen.
Competition starts Thursday at 19:00 local time at the Milano Ice Skating Arena.
Nakai leads, Sakamoto happy to chase
- Japan’s Ami Nakai, pictured top, the youngest figure skater in Milan, edged teammate Kaori Sakamoto by a little over a point to take the lead with 78.71 vs 77.23 points after the Short Program.
Three-time World Champion Kaori Sakamoto (JPN) lies second behind teammate Ami Nakai going into the Free Skating as she seeks that elusive Olympic gold © Getty Images
- Three-time World Champion Sakamoto said she feels comfortable chasing the leader and is determined to attack in the Free Skating.
- ISU World Champion Alysa Liu (USA) in third place is not far behind on 76.59 points.
Reigning World Champion Alysa Liu (USA) sits in third place after the Short Program © Getty Images
- Reigning ISU World bronze medalist Mone Chiba (JPN) in fourth has a shot at the podium as well (74.00 points). Can the Japanese women achieve a historical medal sweep?
- Adeliia Petrosian (AIN) comes from fifth place and is the only woman in the competition to have a quadruple jump - a toeloop - in her arsenal. In order to get onto the podium, she will need to risk it all.
- Others to watch include 2023 ISU European Champion Anastasiia Gubanova (GEO), two-time ISU World medalist Loena Hendrickx (BEL) and Isabeau Levito (USA).
- Amber Glenn (USA) is only in 13th place following a mistake in the Short Program but hopes to catch up.
Can former European Champion Anastasiia Gubanova, currently in sixth, win Georgia's second medal of the Games? © Getty Images
Quick Facts
- A total of 27 Women representing 20 NOCs and two Individual Neutral Athletes competed in the Short Program and the top 24 after the Short Program advanced to the Free Skating.
- The highest score in the Women’s Free Skating currently is 185.29 points, set by Kamila Valieva in 2021. Valieva also holds the highest Women’s total score with 272.71.
- The highest score in the Women’s Free Skating at Olympic Games is 177.13 points achieved by Alexandra Trusova in 2022 while the highest total score at Olympic Games is held by Anna Shcherbakova with 255.95 points (2022 Beijing Games).
- The 2022 Olympic bronze medalist Kaori Sakamoto is the only returning Women’s medalist.
