Olympic Figure Skating 2026: Full Schedule, Top Contenders & How to Watch Live

Olympic figure skating electrified the Milan Cortina 2026 ice Tuesday night as Japan’s teenage sensation Ami Nakai delivered a career-best 78.71-point program to seize first place in the women’s short program, edging two-time world champion Kaori Sakamoto into second. Team USA’s comeback star Alysa Liu—competing in her first Games since a two-year hiatus—landed her trademark triple Lutz-triple toe to roar into third, keeping American medal hopes alive heading into Thursday’s free skate. Countrywomen Isabeau Levito (8th) and Amber Glenn (13th) will need personal-best skates to climb the leaderboard. Japan’s depth was on full display as Mone Chiba sits fourth, giving the Hinomaru three skaters in the top four and a realistic shot at sweeping the podium. Why Tuesday mattered • Short-program scores count for half of the final total, so Nakai’s cushion forces her rivals to attack in the longer free skate. • Liu’s 20-year-old legs look refreshed after her celebrated “gap year” that included climbing the Himalayas; she now owns the highest U.S. short-program Olympic placement since 2014. • Sakamoto’s powerful skating and world-leading component scores remain a threat—she won both of her Grand Prix events this season and rarely falters under pressure. What to watch in the free skate 1. Quad watch: Neither Nakai nor Sakamoto plan a quadruple jump, but Russia-neutral Adeliia Petrosian, currently fifth, has a quad toe loop in reserve and could rocket up the standings if she lands it cleanly. 2. Stamina showdown: The high-altitude Lombardy venue challenged cardio Tuesday; expect choreography-heavy programs to separate contenders in the final minute. 3. U.S. strategy: Liu hinted she may upgrade to a triple Axel—landed in practice this week—to chase gold rather than defend bronze. Medal outlook • Gold battle: Nakai vs. Sakamoto—consistency versus experience. • Dark horse: Liu, whose season-best free skate score sits just 1.2 points behind Nakai’s personal record. • Podium bubble: Chiba, Petrosian, Levito. Key schedule • Free skate: Thursday, 19:00 local (13:00 ET). • Victory ceremony follows immediately; gala exhibition Saturday. SEO takeaway Fans searching for “Olympic figure skating results,” “Milan Cortina 2026 women’s short program,” and “Alysa Liu comeback” will find the decisive scores, athlete quotes, and free-skate stakes here—all the intel needed before medals are awarded.