A teenage figure skater from Japan delivered the performance of her life Tuesday, capturing an unexpected first-place position after the short program portion of Olympic women’s figure skating competition in Milan.
Seventeen-year-old Ami Nakai executed a flawless routine that included a challenging triple Axel, earning her a personal season-best score of 78.71 points in what marks her first-ever Olympic appearance.
Veteran competitor Kaori Sakamoto, a three-time world champion also from Japan, claimed second place with 77.23 points, while Team USA’s Alysa Liu secured third position scoring 76.59 points. The final medal standings will be determined during Thursday’s free skate competition.
“I wasn’t nervous at all, so I was able to perform as my usual self and excel,” Nakai shared with media following her routine.
“Since this is my first Olympics, I had nothing to lose, and that mindset definitely translated into my results.”
The young skater revealed she found motivation from watching Japan’s pairs skating duo Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, who rallied from fifth place to capture gold on Monday.
“I was deeply moved by the pairs performance yesterday, and it really brought home to me how important it is to never give up until the very end,” she explained.
Sakamoto, who has announced this will be her final Olympic competition, relied on her veteran experience to deliver a polished performance to “Time To Say Goodbye” before the packed Milano Ice Skating Arena crowd.
“I wanted to be myself as usual, and there was a little bit of nerve, but I was able to sustain the nerve,” commented Sakamoto, who earned bronze at the Beijing 2022 Olympics.
“In the first half, I was a little bit anxious. But as the music goes on, I got very comfortable, and I was able to really enjoy my performance today.”
Current world champion Liu, competing in her second Olympic Games, appeared relaxed and confident throughout her clean routine. The American skater, who stepped away from competition in 2022 at just 16 years old before making her comeback, seemed free from competitive pressure.
“A medal? I don’t need a medal,” Liu stated to reporters.
“I just need to be here, and I just need to be present, and I need people to see what I do next.”
American teammate Amber Glenn experienced heartbreak during her performance, successfully opening with a triple Axel before encountering trouble later in her routine. The three-time U.S. national champion reduced a planned triple loop to a double jump, receiving zero points for that element.
Glenn departed the ice visibly emotional and chose not to speak with media after her 13th-place finish effectively ended her medal prospects.
Russian competitor Adeliia Petrosian, participating as a neutral athlete due to Russia’s Olympic ban following the Ukraine invasion, emerged as an early surprise contender. Performing a Michael Jackson-inspired routine as the second of 29 skaters, she successfully completed three triple jumps to achieve a personal-best 72.89 points.
Her score held the top position for over two hours until Nakai’s performance displaced her. Petrosian ultimately finished fifth and remains in medal contention heading into Thursday’s final.
The Russian teenager chose not to attempt a quadruple jump or triple Axel during the short program, potentially saving those elements for the free skate as she pursues a fourth straight Olympic women’s title for Russian competitors.
“I would like to keep this a secret because I never tell about my programme,” Petrosian responded when questioned about her free skate strategy.
Due to the international competition ban on Russian athletes, Petrosian has had limited competitive exposure and secured her Olympic qualification by winning a September event in Beijing.
The competition also featured Israeli skater Mariia Seniuk, a 20-year-old Moscow native and four-time national champion for Israel. The crowd welcomed Seniuk warmly as she scored 58.61 points to advance to the free skate in 22nd position.
Seniuk served as Israel’s flag bearer during the opening ceremony, where the nation’s 10-athlete delegation received mixed reactions from spectators.
“I’m skating for Israel and some of the people don’t support [it] but I really enjoyed the atmosphere today,” she noted.
“It’s very, very special … you can just feel it.”
