Winter Olympics Recap: Japanese Pair Upstage ‘Blade Angels,’ Germany Sweeps 2-man Bobsled

Winter Olympics Recap: Japanese Pair Upstage ‘Blade Angels,’ Germany Sweeps 2-man Bobsled
Ami Nakai of Team Japan competes during the Women's Single Skating - Short Program on day eleven of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena in Milan, Italy, on Feb. 17, 2026. Sarah Stier/Getty Images
|Updated:
0:00

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy—Ami Nakai and Japanese teammate Kaori Sakamoto upstaged Alysa Liu and the rest of the “Blade Angels” from the United States to take the lead after the short program in the women’s figure skating competition at the Milan Cortina Olympics on Tuesday.

Nakai rode her opening triple axel to a career-best 78.71 points, while Sakamoto was right behind with 77.23 as she chases just about the only gold medal she has yet to win. Liu was third with 76.59, keeping her within range of the top step of the podium.