2026 Winter Olympics Women’s Figure Skating: Free Skating Results and Medal Race

 

Today, February 19, 2026, the world’s attention turns to the Milano Ice Skating Arena for the most anticipated event of the Games: the Women’s Single Free Skating final.

Following a high-stakes short program on Tuesday, the stage is set for a dramatic showdown between a breakout teenage sensation, a seasoned veteran on the verge of retirement, and a former world champion looking for redemption.

2026 Winter Olympics: Women’s Free Skating Preview

The Standings: A Razor-Thin Margin

Heading into the free skate, Japan’s Ami Nakai holds a slim lead after an electrifying short program. The 17-year-old debutant stunned the field by landing a clean triple Axel, proving that the next generation of skaters has arrived under the ISU’s new age eligibility rules.

However, the competition is far from over. Here is how the top of the leaderboard looks:

Rank	Skater	Country	Short Program Score
1	Ami Nakai	Japan	78.71
2	Kaori Sakamoto	Japan	77.23
3	Alysa Liu	USA	76.59
4	Mone Chiba	Japan	74.00
5	Adeliia Petrosian	AIN	72.89

The Storylines to Watch

• Sakamoto’s Final Bow: Three-time World Champion Kaori Sakamoto has signaled that this will be her final competitive season. Known for her immense power and speed, she is looking to add an individual Olympic gold to her legendary resume before retiring.

• The American Hope: Alysa Liu sits in third, well within striking distance. After a brief retirement and a triumphant return to the sport, Liu's consistency and artistic maturity have made her the USA’s best hope for gold since the 1990s.

• The Quad Factor: Sitting in fifth, Adeliia Petrosian is the "X-factor" of the night. Rumors from the practice rink suggest she may attempt two quadruple jumps. If landed, she could leapfrog the entire field, despite her current deficit.

Technical Demands                   

The free skate requires seven jump elements, including at least one Axel-type jump. With the pressure of the Olympic podium on the line, the battle will likely come down to who can maintain composure during the grueling 4-minute-and-10-second program.