The German figure skating pair Minerva Hase and Nikita Volodin took the lead with 80.01 points in the pairs short program at the Winter Olympics in Italy. The vice world champions delivered an error-free Tango performance and hold a 4.55-point lead ahead of Monday's free skate. They continue to dream of gold after a strong showing without nerves.
At the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, the German pairs duo Minerva Hase and Nikita Volodin impressed in the figure skating short program. The 26-year-olds, who have been skating together for over three years and train in Berlin, presented an error-free Tango routine and scored 80.01 points. As vice world champions and 2025 European champions, they showed no nerves unlike other favorites and took the lead.
After the performance, Hase said: «We are very happy about the first part, but we are saving the big emotions for later.» Before the competition, she had stated: «We focus on what we can influence» – and it worked. Volodin, born in Russia, only received his German passport last year, necessary for Olympic participation. Compared to the European Championships in Sheffield, UK, a month ago, where they made errors and finished second behind Anastasia Metelkina/Luka Berulawa from Georgia, they appeared greatly improved.
Metelkina/Berulawa are second with a 4.55-point deficit, followed by Canadians Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud with 74.60 points. The second German pair, Annika Hocke and Robert Kunkel, placed 11th with 67.52 points after a solid performance without major errors. Germany's last pairs gold medal was won by Aljona Savchenko and Bruno Massot eight years ago in Pyeongchang with a strong free skate. Like then, Hase/Volodin will need a convincing free skate for Olympic victory, scheduled for Monday at 8 p.m. and broadcast live on ARD and Eurosport.
The focus of Germany's medal hopes was clearly on Hase/Volodin, who had geared everything toward the Games. Their clean performance keeps dreams of a major coup alive.