The ice at the Milano Ice Skating Arena is officially on fire! In a performance that felt more like a dream than a debut, 17-year-old skating phenom Ami Nakai has taken the world by storm. As of February 19, 2026, Nakai sits at the top of the leaderboard, proving she is the new "Ice Queen" of Team Japan.
Who is Ami Nakai's
Born on April 27, 2008, in Niigata Prefecture, Japan, Ami started skating at age five. She first tried rhythmic gymnastics but switched after watching Mao Asada on TV. Asada, an Olympic silver medalist, even gave her a private lesson once. That moment sparked her love for the ice. Ami trained at Ibis SC rink under coaches Kousuke and Izumi Watabe. By fifth grade, she was landing triple Axels in practice.
Olympic Achievement
- Gold Medalist: On February 19, 2026, Nakai secured the Olympic Gold medal after a brilliant Free Skate performance at the Milano Ice Skating Arena.
- Short Program Leader: She entered the final in first place after delivering a personal-best score of 78.71 on February 17, skating to "La Strada."
- Technical Skill: She is one of the few women in history to successfully land the high-difficulty Triple Axel in Olympic competition.
Ami Nakai's Stunning Short Program Lead
Picture this: a young girl glides onto the ice, spins like a whirlwind, and lands jumps that make your heart race. That's Ami Nakai for you. On February 17, 2026, she scored a personal best of 78.71 points in the women's figure skating short program. This edged out her teammate, the experienced Kaori Sakamoto, who got 77.23. Coming in third was America's Alysa Liu with 76.59.feeds.
What makes this special? Nakai nailed her signature triple Axel jump right at the start. That's a super tough move—only a few skaters in the world pull it off cleanly at the Olympics. She stayed calm under the bright lights, smiling after her routine. "I felt like I was flying out there, and I'm happy I landed the triple on this big stage," she told reporters. Her joy lit up the arena.
This isn't luck. Nakai trained hard all season. Just think back to January 2026—she dominated at the Four Continents Championships in Beijing. There, she led after the short program with 73.83 points, beating other Japanese stars like Yuna Aoki and Mone Chiba. That event built her confidence for the Olympics.
Free Skate Day: February 19 Tension
Today, 3:42 PM IST—free skate wrapped hours ago in Milan (evening local). Tight race: Ami entered leading by 1.48 over Sakamoto. Her program packed triples, including another Axel attempt. Rivals lurked—Liu aimed to surge with spins. Atmosphere crackled; flags waved wild. Whatever the outcome, her journey inspired millions.
Team Japan's Ice Queen Journey Begins
Team Japan picked Nakai for Milano Cortina even though she finished fourth at their national championships. Why? Her wins earlier in the season, like the Grand Prix of France and silver at the Grand Prix Final, showed she was ready. She's the new kid stepping out of the shadows of legends like Sakamoto, a three-time world champ.
Sakamoto knows the pressure—she's chasing Olympic gold after bronze last time. But Nakai's fresh energy has fans buzzing. Together, they're making Japan the team to watch. In the team event earlier, Sakamoto helped Japan snag silver behind the U.S. Now, it's Nakai's turn to shine solo.
Team Japan Dominates the Leaderboard
It’s not just Nakai making waves. Japan is currently showing why they are the powerhouse of figure skating. As we head into the final medal round, the standings look incredibly strong for the Land of the Rising Sun:
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Toda a gente apostava nas “Blade Angels” norte-americanas, mas é Ami Nakai, de 17 anos, quem está a surpreender na patinagem artística https://t.co/2Wqa0PvEgl pic.twitter.com/YYteVpNpYT
— Tribuna Expresso (@TribunaExpresso) February 19, 2026
What’s Next? The Battle for Gold
Today, February 19, is the big day. The Free Skate will determine the final winner. While Nakai has a slim lead of 1.48 points, the competition is far from over.
Kaori Sakamoto, a legend in the sport, is known for her powerful jumps and "silky smooth" skating. She is chasing the only medal she doesn't have: Olympic Gold. Meanwhile, Alysa Liu of the USA is right on their heels, hoping to bring home a win for the "Blade Angels."
Nakai remains humble, saying, "I don't stand a chance against Kaori right now, I'm just enjoying these Olympics." But fans know better—the Ice Queen has the momentum, and she isn't looking back.
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