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Japan sweeps top spots in Olympic figure skating short program
Japan secured three of the top four positions in the women's figure skating short program at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on Wednesday, capitalizing on errors by favored American competitors.
Ami Nakai sets season-best score
Seventeen-year-old Ami Nakai delivered a commanding performance, topping the leaderboard with a season-high score of 78.71. The result places her ahead of three-time world champion Kaori Sakamoto, while fellow Japanese skater Mone Chiba, last year's world bronze medalist, sits in fourth.
American skaters stumble
Reigning world champion Alysa Liu, known for her distinctive halo hair and lip piercing, drew loud cheers from the crowd-including teammate Ilia Malinin and rapper Snoop Dogg-but lost points after under-rotating her triple lutz. She currently holds third place.
American champion Amber Glenn suffered a more severe setback, missing her triple loop entirely, which resulted in a zero score for the element. The 26-year-old left the rink in tears and now ranks 13th, effectively ending her medal hopes.
Russian skater shines as neutral athlete
Adeliia Petrosian, the Russian national champion competing as an Individual Neutral Athlete (AIN), sits in fifth place after a flawless routine set to a Michael Jackson medley. Her performance, which included a triple flip and toe loop, earned a season-best score of 72.89.
Petrosian, who has been unable to compete internationally due to the International Skating Union's ban on Russian athletes, received mixed reactions from the crowd-cheers from supporters and scattered boos during her introduction. Her choice of music, including They Don't Care About Us, drew attention amid the controversy surrounding her participation.
The 18-year-old is coached by Daniil Gleikhengauz, though her team has distanced itself from Eteri Tutberidze, the controversial coach linked to Kamila Valieva's doping scandal at the previous Olympics.
British skater bids farewell in final performance
Kristen Spours, representing Team GB, concluded her competitive career with a 29th-place finish. The two-time British champion, who announced her retirement last year following disc herniation surgery, skated without a double axel-a required element she could not perform due to injury risks.
"I'm a little disappointed with my mistake today. That's usually something I can do in my sleep, but it happens. I was more nervous than in the team event, so I'm happy."
Kristen Spours
Despite the early error, Spours left the ice with a smile, scoring 45.54 in what she described as a celebration of her love for the sport.
What's next
The top 24 skaters advance to Thursday's free skate, where medals will be decided. Japan's dominance sets the stage for a potential sweep, while Petrosian remains the best hope for an AIN medal.
