17-Year-Old Rookie SHOCKS the World: Ami Nakai Crushes Olympic Legends in Figure Skating Thriller! You Won’t Believe Who’s in 3rd…

The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics continue to captivate audiences worldwide, with the Games hosted across Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo, and other Italian venues now deep into their second week as of February 18, 2026. Running from February 6 to 22, the event features a packed schedule of winter sports, but figure skating remains one of the most watched disciplines, drawing massive crowds to the Milano Ice Skating Arena.

Overall Olympics Buzz

The host nation Italy has performed strongly on home ice and snow, sitting near the top of the overall medal table alongside powerhouses like Norway. Recent highlights include Italy’s gold in the men’s speed skating team pursuit and strong showings in freestyle skiing and other events. Weather disruptions in mountain venues like Livigno have postponed some snowboarding and freeski events, but indoor sports like figure skating have proceeded smoothly.

In figure skating specifically, Japan has emerged as a dominant force so far, leading the discipline’s medal tally with multiple podium finishes. The United States has secured key medals, including gold in the team event.

Figure Skating Medal Highlights So Far

Figure skating events have delivered drama, technical brilliance, and historic moments:

• Pairs: Japan claimed its first-ever Olympic pairs gold through Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, who rallied from fifth after the short program to post a personal-best free skate and overall score. Georgia’s Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava took silver (Georgia’s first Winter Olympic medal ever), while Germany’s Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin earned bronze.
• Men’s Singles: Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Shaidorov stunned with a commanding free skate to win gold. Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama and Shun Sato rounded out the podium in silver and bronze positions (exact placements based on final standings).
• Ice Dance: Specific medal details for rhythm/free dance have contributed to Japan’s strong haul.
• Team Event (early in the Games): The United States dominated to take gold, with Japan silver and Italy bronze, featuring standout performances from stars like Ilia Malinin, Alysa Liu, and ice dance duo Madison Chock/Evan Bates.

Japan leads the figure skating medal table with 1 gold, 2 silver, and 1 bronze (as of latest updates), followed by the U.S. (1 gold, 1 silver) and others picking up singles.

Latest: Women’s Singles Competition

The women’s singles event has been a major focus in recent days, with the short program taking place on February 17 delivering intense competition and setting up an exciting free skate finale scheduled for February 19.

Japan’s depth shone brightly in the short program:

1. Ami Nakai (JPN) – 78.71 (stunning Olympic debut with confident jumps, including a triple Axel, and composure beyond her 17 years)
2. Kaori Sakamoto (JPN) – 77.23
3. Alysa Liu (USA) – 76.59 (season-best, strong technical elements putting her firmly in medal contention)
4. Mone Chiba (JPN) – 74.00

Other notable U.S. results:

• Isabeau Levito finished 8th (clean but needing a big free skate push).
• Amber Glenn struggled with a missed jump (zero on one element), dropping to around 13th and making a podium comeback challenging.

The “Blade Angels” (U.S. women’s team) entered with high expectations for a potential sweep, but the short program showed Japan’s “Big Three” controlling the top spots. Liu’s solid performance keeps American hopes alive heading into the free skate, where anything can happen with jumps, artistry, and pressure.

Fans and analysts are buzzing about potential medal scenarios: Can Nakai hold off her more experienced teammates and Liu? Will one of the U.S. skaters mount a comeback? The free skate promises high drama.

Looking Ahead

With several figure skating events still to conclude and other sports ramping up (including potential rescheduled snow events), the Milano Cortina Games remain wide open. Check official sources like Olympics.com or ISU results for live updates, full protocols, and the women’s free skate broadcast.

The blend of athletic excellence, national pride, and unexpected breakthroughs has made these Olympics unforgettable so far—stay tuned for more historic moments!

Read More On Winter Olympics

→ U.S. Hockey Roars, Vonn Fights Back, and Curling Chaos

→ “Quad God” Ilia Malinin Tumbles to Eighth as Shaidorov Claims Historic Gold

→ Chloe Kim’s Olympic Dream CRUSHED by Her 17-Year-Old Protégé