Sakamoto Rules the Milan Ice

The atmosphere inside the Milano Ice Skating Arena reached a boiling point tonight as Japan’s Sakamoto Kaori delivered a clinical performance in the Women’s Singles Free Skate. With the pressure of a nation on her shoulders, the reigning World Champion secured the maximum 10 points for Japan, setting the stage for one of the closest finishes in Olympic history.

As the penultimate event of the Milano Cortina 2026 Team competition concluded, the standings revealed a dead heat. The United States’ Amber Glenn delivered a gritty performance to finish third, earning vital points that kept Team USA neck-and-neck with their rivals. Heading into the final event, both nations are officially level on points, with Japan holding the tie-break advantage due to a higher number of individual segment wins.

The Power of Performance

Sakamoto, known for her incredible speed and massive jump coverage, skated a program that blended mature artistry with technical precision. Her signature double Axel—which covers more ice than almost any other skater in history—was a highlight, earning massive Grades of Execution (GOE). Behind her in second place was Kimmy Repond of Switzerland, whose ethereal style and clean triple-triple combinations added a layer of European elegance to the final flight.

For Team USA, Amber Glenn showed immense heart. Known for her powerful triple Axel in practice, Glenn opted for a clean, stable program tonight to ensure she didn’t leave the door open for other nations to leapfrog the Americans. Her soaring triple Flip-triple Toe loop combination in the second half of her program was crucial in keeping the U.S. tied for the lead.

A Historic Stand-Off

With only the Men’s Singles Free Skate remaining, the gold medal is a two-horse race between two skating superpowers. Japan’s tactical decision to use Sakamoto in the Free Skate paid dividends, as her trademark power and lightning-fast edge work left the judges with no choice but to award her the top spot.

The strategy now shifts to the men. Japan is expected to field Yuma Kagiyama, the Olympic silver medalist known for his buttery-soft landings and deep edges. Team USA will likely counter with Ilia Malinin, the “Quad God,” who has the technical scoring potential to blow the competition wide open if he lands his historic quadruple Axel. The math is simple: whoever places higher in the final Men’s segment will likely claim the Olympic Gold.

Ultimately, Sakamoto Kaori didn’t just win a segment; she transformed the ice into a battlefield, leaving the world breathless for the final act in Milan.

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By Vitalina Andrushchenko, Staff Writer