On Thursday night, 19 February, the Milano Ice Skating Arena hosted the women’s free skate at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, delivering a thrilling conclusion to the event.
Alysa Liu of the United States won the gold medal, becoming the first U.S. woman to reach the Olympic podium in individual figure skating since 2006. Liu scored 150.20 points in the free skate, for a total of 226.79 points, performing her program to Donna Summer’s MacArthur Park.
Kaori Sakamoto of Japan earned silver, skating to a medley of Edith Piaf songs, including Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien. Despite missing a triple jump, Sakamoto delivered a clean performance with her signature elegance, earning 147.67 points in the free skate for a total of 224.90 points. Overcome with emotion, the Kobe native sobbed into the arms of her longtime coach Sonoko Nakano as she left the Olympic ice for the final time.
Ami Nakai, also from Japan, claimed the bronze medal, executing a rare triple axel at the start of her routine that energized her entire performance. She scored 140.45 in the free skate and 219.16 points overall, narrowly surpassing her teammate Mone Chiba, who finished fourth with 217.88 points. The 17-year-old Nakai, who led after the short program, celebrated her first Olympic medal in a remarkable debut. She performed with grace and emotion, captivating everyone in the audience. She danced to the legendary song What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong, bringing warmth and nostalgia to the stage. Her movements perfectly reflected the timeless beauty and optimism of the music, creating a truly unforgettable moment. ‘Being able to skate on this dream-like stage is already incredible, but to win a medal like this makes me feel as though a dream has come true’, she said.
Mone Chiba, the other Japanese skater, earned the fourth-best free skate score, 143.88 points, and finished just ahead of the American Amber Glenn, who rose from 13th to fifth place thanks to an excellent free skate.
Adeliia Petrosian, competing under a neutral flag, finished sixth after the 18-year-old fell on her opening attempt at a quadruple jump. The costly mistake took her out of medal contention despite a technically strong performance in the remainder of her program.
The audience was also delighted by figure skater Jekaterina Kurakowa, who has represented Poland since 2019 and finished 20th in the the women’s figure skating singles final.
The event highlighted a mix of experience, elegance, and youthful determination, leaving fans around the world in awe of these remarkable athletes.
Photo: Alysa Liu, at center, with the silver medallist Kaori Sakamoto at left and bronze medallist Ami Nakai at right at the Milano Cortina Olympics. Fabrizio Carabelli / PA Images via Getty Images