In the figure skating team event at the Milano Cortina Olympics, the U.S. led with 25 points after the first day’s rhythm dance, women’s short program, and pairs short, followed closely by Japan with 23 points. Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto topped the women’s short with a strong performance, while Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara won the pairs. The event continues with the men’s short on Saturday.
The figure skating team event at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics kicked off on February 7 in Milan, Italy. After the rhythm dance in ice dancing, the women’s short program, and the pairs short program, the U.S. topped the standings with 25 points, followed by Japan with 23 and Italy with 22.
In ice dancing, three-time world champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the U.S. led with 91.06 points, the best score of the season. France’s Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron scored 89.98 for second, with Britain’s Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson in third.
Japan’s triple world champion Kaori Sakamoto, who plans to retire after this season, delivered a stirring performance to “Time to Say Goodbye” by Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli, earning 78.88 points to top the women’s short. U.S. skater Alysa Liu followed with 74.90 points to the song “Promise” by Laufey, placing second, while Italy’s Lara Naki Gutmann took third.
In pairs, two-time world champions Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara of Japan won the short program. Georgia’s Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava finished second with their “Bolero” routine, and home favorites Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii of Italy were third.
Liu said, “Team spirit is great. Oh my God, that’s the best part, especially about today because I’m so glad I did the team event because that energy is what I crave.” Bates added, “We definitely skated great. To break 90 is always a great feat, and to do it to open the Games is even better.” Cizeron noted, “We’ve been improving at each competition and adding to our score, but getting more precise with our technical elements and having more fun.”
Introduced at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, the three-day team event features one entry per country in each discipline. Points are awarded by placement, from 10 for first to one for last, with only the top five advancing to the free skates after shorts. The men’s short program is scheduled for Saturday.
