Ami Nakai : After the minimum age in figure skating was raised to 17, it was believed that the dominance of younger athletes would be a thing of the past. But on the ice of Milan-Cortina 2026, a teenager proved that notion wrong.
Ami Nakai, the youngest participant in the women’s category, surprised everyone by taking the top spot after the short program. Due to her low world rankings, she was seeded 18th out of 29 skaters. Normally, securing a medal spot at this position is not easy, but Nakai turned it into a challenge.
Japan’s dominance continues
This tournament has been memorable for Japan so far. The team has won four medals and made its presence felt in every event.
In the men’s category, strong contender Ilya Malinin was left out of the medals. Yuma Kagiyama took advantage of this and took silver, while Shun Sato took bronze.
In the pairs category, Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara overcame the disappointment of the short program to make a remarkable comeback in the free skate and advance straight to the gold medal.
Final Match Time
The real decision for the women’s event will be made in the free skate. Nakai’s early lead has made the competition even more exciting. If her form continues, this could prove to be a historic moment for Japan.