02/17/26 04:19:00
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02/17 16:17 CST Japan's Ami Nakai surges into Olympic lead after short program
as US struggles at the Winter Games
Japan's Ami Nakai surges into Olympic lead after short program as US struggles
at the Winter Games
By DAVE SKRETTA
AP Sports Writer
MILAN (AP) --- Ami Nakai and Japanese teammate Kaori Sakamoto upstaged Alysa
Liu and the rest of the "Blade Angels" from the U.S. on Tuesday night, taking
the lead after the short program in the women's figure skating competition at
the Milan Cortina Olympics.
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.
Things didn't go quite so well for the rest of the American team.
Isabeau Levito lost a level on her step sequence and wound up eighth with 70.84
points, while three-time reigning U.S. champ Amber Glenn likely had her medal
hopes dashed when she doubled up a triple loop, making the jump invalid and
worth no points.
Glenn, trying to hold back tears as she stepped off the ice, was in 13th place
with 67.39 points.
"I had it," she told her coach, Damon Allen, who replied: "It's not over."
Mone Chiba gave Japan three women capable of stacking the podium when the
women's free skate on Thursday night wraps up the figure skating program at the
Winter Games. She scored 74.00 points, putting her just ahead of Adeliia
Petrosian of Russia.
The women's event has long been considered a showdown between the brilliant
Japanese and the powerful Americans.
Petrosian wedged herself right in among them.
The world had barely seen the 18-year-old from Moscow because Russia remains
barred from international competition following its invasion of Ukraine. But
Pedrosian, who is coached by the controversial Eteri Tutberidze, was vetted and
cleared by the International Olympic Committee of any ties to the military or
the war, allowing her to take part and win a qualifying event in Japan.
Without any real world ranking to her name, Petrosian was the second to take
the ice, slotted in among skaters with little chance to qualify for the free
skate let alone touch the podium. But it was clear she was different the moment
her music began.
With a medley of Michael Jackson hits playing, Petrosian --- competing as a
neutral athlete --- whipped through her double axel, landed a triple lutz and
capped the performance with a triple flip-triple toe loop that seemed downright
effortless.
"I'm quite pleased with my score. It's good," Petrosian said in Russian, "and
I'm happy with it."
She'll be even happier to be among the other favorites in the free skate
Thursday night.
"I hope to be in the same warm-up group with them," Petrosian said. "I haven't
really seen them yet because we are all in different practice groups. But it
would be nice to be in the same warm-up group and compete against them."
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AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics
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