The women’s figure skating competition at Milan-Cortina 2026 has burst into life after a stunning short program from Japan’s Ami Nakai. The 17-year-old, the youngest skater in the field following the ISU’s raised age limit, surged to the top on Tuesday night and set up a blockbuster free skate where medals will be decided.
Nakai, competing in her first senior international season, arrived without the global spotlight enjoyed by other contenders. A lower world ranking placed her 18th in the starting order among 29 skaters, but she delivered a joyful, high-quality routine packed with energy and precision. Her season-best score of 78.00 hinted at podium potential—and she delivered when it mattered most, celebrating with a beaming smile at the finish.
Rising from the Middle to the Front
Like ice dance stars Guillaume Cizeron and Laurence Fournier Beaudry earlier in the Games, Nakai climbed from the middle of the pack to seize the lead. Her performance has transformed an already compelling contest into must-watch viewing ahead of the free skate.
Japan’s Medal Momentum
Japan’s figure skating campaign has been exceptional, with medals in every event entered so far—four in total. After narrowly missing team gold to the United States, Japan has taken control across disciplines:
- In the men’s event, favourite Ilia Malinin missed the podium, while Yuma Kagiyama and Shun Sato claimed silver and bronze.
- In pairs, Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara rebounded from a short-program setback to deliver a flawless free skate, rocketing from fifth to first to secure gold.
Podium Sweep Possible?
With the free skate looming, Japan now has a genuine chance of a women’s podium sweep. If Nakai maintains her composure and quality, the women’s event could become Japan’s crowning achievement of the Games.
