2026 Winter Olympics Figure Skating Preview

Last Updated on February 18, 2026 1:39 pm by Erwin Noguera

The Women’s Singles figure skating events stand as one of the most captivating highlights of the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics, blending artistry, athleticism, and drama on the world’s biggest stage.

Over two segments, the short program and the free skate, 24 of the world’s top skaters will compete for Olympic medals in a field that has already produced surprises and emerging talents. After the short program concluded, the leaderboard revealed a tight contest with multiple legitimate medal contenders still in the hunt.

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Winter Olympics Women’s Single Figure Skating Betting Odds and Info

Winter Olympics Short Program Recap

The competition began with the short program on Tuesday, and the standings are tightly packed at the top heading into the decisive free skate on Thursday, February 19.

Seventeen-year-old Ami Nakai delivered a stunning performance featuring a clean triple Axel, and she currently leads the field with a personal best of 78.71 points at her debut on the Olympic Games.

Right behind her is Japanese veteran Kaori Sakamoto, a three-time world champion and Olympic medalist, who scored 77.23 with a graceful and technically strong short program.

American Alysa Liu, the reigning world champion, sits in third place after a score of 76.59, marking the first time since 2006 that a U.S woman has placed in the top three following the Olympic short program.

Just outside the podium places is another Japanese contender, Mone Chiba, currently in fourth, giving Japan a strong chance for multiple medals.

Other athletes qualifying for the free skate in the top eight include Adeliia Petrosian, competing as an individual Neutral athlete from Russia, Loena Hendrickx, and American Isabeau Levito.

Winter Olympics Women’s Single Figure Skating Top Contenders

At just 17, Japan’s Rising star Ami Nakai leads the Olympic leaderboard thanks to her successful triple Axel and composed performance from start to finish. Her ability to execute difficult jumps under pressure, especially the triple Axel early in the program, makes her a genuine gold medal threat, and if she maintains that momentum into the free skate, she could become one of the youngest Olympic champions in the discipline’s history.

Kaori Sakamoto enters these Games with a pedigree, boasting multiple world titles and a reputation for delivering under pressure. Her short program was marked by elegance and strong edge quality, traits that often translate into high program component scores. With a solid foundation heading into the free skate, she sits firmly in the hunt for Olympic gold or silver.

Reigning world champion Alysa Liu has battled a competitive field throughout the season and showed resilience in Milan with a technically polished short program that included solid jump executions. Her third-place position keeps Team USA’s hopes alive for the first individual Olympic medal in women’s figure skating in two decades.

Another medal contender is Mone Chiba. Chiba’s strong performance places her fourth, reinforcing Japan’s depth in women’s skating. If her free skate includes her signature combinations and clean spins, she could leap into medal contention, giving Japan multiple podium finishes.

Japan’s dominance in the top four after the short program creates the potential for a historic sweep of the women’s singles podium, an unprecedented result in Olympic figure skating history. However, Liu’s world champion status provides a strong counter-narrative; if she delivers her technical content and achieves a high PCS in her free skate, she could disrupt that sweep.

Winter Olympics Women’s Single Figure Skating Podium Pick