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Germany’s Minerva Hase & Nikita Volodin came out on top in an eventful Pairs Short Program at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, setting a new personal best en route. The scores are close and the battle for the podium will continue in the Free Skating on Monday. 

Hase & Volodin (GER) set personal best for Pairs lead 

Reigning ISU World silver medalists Minerva Hase & Nikita Volodin of Germany skated to the lead, cracking 80 points for the first time in their career. Georgia’s 2026 ISU European Champions Anastasiia Metelkina & Luka Berulava came second on the first day of the Pairs competition. Canadians Lia Pereira & Trennt Michaud pulled off the biggest surprise by coming in third place. 

Skating last, Hase & Volodin sizzled on the ice with their precise Tango routine, producing a triple twist, triple Salchow and throw triple loop to set a new personal best with 80.01 points.

Minerva Hase & Nikita Volodin (GER) broke the 80-point barrier for the first time and lie in first place ahead of the Free Skate © Getty Images

“We went out on to the ice and wanted that it just feels like a practice and to tune out the Olympics, the stress and everything,” Hase said. 

“It was just another run-through, this is how we went out on to the ice. 

“We did our job and we are very happy about the first part, but we’re saving the big emotions for later.”

The Germans had not followed the scores or watched the competitors that skated before them. 

“We are not watching, not listening,” Hase explained. “We are completely inside our own bubble.”

Metelkina & Berulava put out a strong performance to “Bolero” that featured a triple Salchow and difficult lift. However, Metelkina stepped out of the throw triple flip and the Georgians came second on 75.46 points. 

ISU European Champions Anastasiia Metelkina & Luka Berulava (GEO) put in a strong 'Bolero' routine © Getty Images

“I am happy that we are in medal position following the Short Program but I am a maximalist and therefore, I am not satisfied that I made a mistake on an element that is one of the most consistent for me,” Metelkina noted. 

“I am grateful for the support of my partner and absolutely happy with how he skated today.”

Pereira & Michaud gave an inspiring performance to “Say You Love Me” and completed a side-by-side triple toe and throw triple loop to achieve a new personal best of 74.60 points. 

Lia Pereira & Trennt Michaud (CAN) felt that competing in the Team Event helped them get into the Olympic frame of mind © Getty Images

"We're very proud. We've put in so much work, and we feel like we've been here for a long time as well,” Pereira commented. 

“After being pretty content with the short program of the team event, we still came out wanting more. 

“We're very motivated people, and we always want to put out our best. Today we did that, so it's a really nice kind of full circle moment to do that at the end of the week."

The Canadians felt that competing in the Team Event was helpful for them to get used to the Olympic atmosphere.

Reigning ISU European bronze medalists Maria Pavlova & Alexei Sviatchenko (HUN) finished fourth with another flawless routine to “Earth Song” and are within striking distance of the podium at 73.87 points, a new personal best score. 

Maria Pavlova & Alexei Sviatchenko (HUN) scored a personal best with their 'Earth Song' Short Program © Getty Images

“We are super happy,” Pavlova shared. 

“The atmosphere was amazing. The crowd was crazy, cheering for us, and the flags were there — they came out for us. That made us very proud. This was one of the most incredible programs and competitions for us.”

Hot favorites and current ISU World Champions Riku Miura & Ryuichi Kihara (JPN) unexpectedly struggled with their lift to come fifth. They still can catch up in the Free Skating (73.11 points).

"Lifts are completely about timing and that unspoken connection between us,” Miura shared. 

“So if it's even slightly off, this is what happens. I think some of it was also bad luck. However, because of this mistake, we want to approach tomorrow even more carefully, step by step, with our minds cleared."

The 2022 Olympic Champions Wenjing Sui & Cong Han (CHN) turned in a passionate flamenco program. While Sui stumbled on the side-by-side triple toe, the other elements were strong and the Chinese are sitting in sixth place on 72.66 points.

Following a practice accident, 2024 ISU World Champions Deanna Stellato-Dudek & Maxime Deschamps (CAN) did not know until last Monday whether they were able to compete. Stellato-Dudek recovered in time, however after she fell on the exit of the lift, the Canadians ended the Short Program in 14th place at 66.04 points. 

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