Milan, Feb. 18 -- Japanese figure skater Ami Nakai led the women's short program standings at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games here.
Skating to Italian composer Nino Rota's "La Strada," the 17-year-old delivered a clean, confident routine highlighted by a triple Axel, a triple Lutz and a triple toe loop.
She skated smoothly to the music and matched her expressions to the choreography throughout, earning 78.71 points. Her compatriot Kaori Sakamoto, the Beijing 2022 bronze medalist, placed second with 77.23 points, while reigning world champion Alysa Liu of the United States sat third with 76.59, according to Xinhua.
China's Zhang Ruiyang opened with a solid triple Salchow-triple toe loop combination. Skating to American singer ...