⛸️ 2026 Winter Olympics Women’s Figure Skating Free Skate: Complete Guide, Schedule & Medal Predictions
Meta Description: Watch the 2026 Winter Olympics Women’s Figure Skating Free Skate on Feb 19 in Milan. Ami Nakai leads, Alysa Liu in medal contention. Complete schedule, where to watch, and predictions.
Breaking: Women’s Free Skate Set for Historic Finish on February 19
Japanese breakout talent Ami Nakai is out front heading into the free skate after a triple Axel and triple-Lutz-triple-toe-loop combination jump boosted her score to the top spot. Just 17, she skated a fun, high energy performance that showcased her youth while also leveraging her serious technical ability. ProPakistani
Only 2.12 points separate Ami Nakai, Kaori Sakamoto, and Alysa Liu after the short program, making the women’s singles free skate one of the closest Olympic figure skating finals in decades. 8171ip
The women’s singles figure skating competition at Milano Cortina 2026 is building toward a dramatic conclusion as the free skate takes center stage on Thursday, February 19, 2026.
📅 2026 Winter Olympics Women’s Free Skate Schedule
The women’s singles figure skating competition at the 2026 Winter Olympics will be held on 17 and 19 February at the Milano Ice Skating Arena in Milan, Italy. The top twenty-four highest scoring skaters after the short program will advance to the free skate, which will be held on 19 February. Maryam ki Dastak
Event Details:
- Date: Thursday, February 19, 2026
- Time: 1:00 PM ET / 12:00 PM CT / 10:00 AM PT
- Venue: Milano Ice Skating Arena (Milano MSK-Competition Rink), Milan, Italy
- Warm-ups: 10:30 AM ET on Peacock
- Live Broadcast: NBC, Peacock (live stream)
- Primetime Re-air: USA Network at 1:30 AM ET, NBC at 7:00 PM CT
Job Type Info: Professional Figure Skater (Athlete) — Olympic-level competitive sport requiring years of elite training, technical mastery, and artistic performance skills.
Current Standings After Short Program
Japan’s Nakai Ami leads the women’s figure skating competition after Tuesday evening’s short program. The 17-year-old earned a season’s best 78.71, just ahead of teammate Sakamoto Kaori, a three-time world champion and reigning Olympic bronze medallist, who scored 77.23. 2025 world champion Alysa Liu of the United States sits third with a 76.59. Punjab Portal
Top 10 Standings Entering Free Skate:
| Rank | Skater | Country | Short Program Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ami Nakai | Japan 🇯🇵 | 78.71 |
| 2 | Kaori Sakamoto | Japan 🇯🇵 | 77.23 |
| 3 | Alysa Liu | USA 🇺🇸 | 76.59 |
| 4 | Mone Chiba | Japan 🇯🇵 | 74.00 |
| 5 | Adeliia Petrosian | AIN (Neutral) 🏳️ | ~73.00 |
| 8 | Isabeau Levito | USA 🇺🇸 | ~70.00 |
| 13 | Amber Glenn | USA 🇺🇸 | ~65.00 |
Meet the Medal Contenders
🥇 Ami Nakai (Japan) — Leading After Short Program
“Having finished the performance, it felt like a dream out there,” Nakai told Olympics.com afterward, “and I’m so happy I nailed the triple Axel on this amazing stage.” Punjab Portal
At just 17 years old, Ami Nakai has burst onto the Olympic scene with a stunning short program performance. Her clean triple Axel — one of only two attempted in the women’s competition — combined with flawless execution gives her a narrow lead heading into the free skate.
Strengths: Youth, fearlessness, triple Axel capability, explosive jumps Weakness: Limited Olympic experience, pressure of leading
🥈 Kaori Sakamoto (Japan) — The Veteran Gold Favorite
At 25, Sakamoto has said these Games – her third, a veteran of PyeongChang 2018 and Beijing 2022 – will be her final. In Milano, she’s skating, fittingly, to Time to Say Goodbye. Punjab Portal
It is widely expected that she will remain as consistent as she has been all week (she won both of her events in the team event earlier in the Games) and is the favorite for gold here in the Milan Cortina Olympic Games. ProPakistani
The three-time world champion (2022, 2023, 2024) and reigning Olympic bronze medalist is on a farewell tour. Sakamoto’s trademark consistency, speed, and mature artistry make her the odds-on favorite for gold despite sitting in second place.
Strengths: Experience, consistency, highest program components score, emotional storytelling Challenge: Slight deficit to make up
🥉 Alysa Liu (USA) — America’s Medal Hope
Liu, the 20-year-old reigning world champion who came back after retiring four years ago, delivered a stellar short program that featured a triple lutz-triple loop, the hardest combination that any woman tried Tuesday night, and sat two points back of Japan’s Ami Nakai. The Educationist Hub
Four years ago after competing in Beijing, Liu announced her retirement from the sport. She came back to the sport last season vowing to do things on her own terms this time around and claiming that surprise world title last March. Punjab Portal
Alysa Liu’s comeback story is one of the most compelling narratives at Milano Cortina 2026. After retiring in 2022 at age 16, she returned to the sport and won the 2025 World Championships. Now she’s within striking distance of ending the USA’s 20-year Olympic drought in women’s figure skating.
Strengths: Highest technical difficulty attempted, world champion, artistic control Challenge: 2.12 points behind leader
🔥 Dark Horse: Adeliia Petrosian (Neutral Athlete)
Russian skater Adeliia Petrosian, who is competing as a neutral athlete and entered the games as a mystery to many in the skating world, also remains very much in the medal picture, placing fifth in the short program. Quadruple jumps are allowed in Thursday’s free skate, and Petrosian is the only woman in the competition who regularly performs them. A clean quad could catapult her onto the podium. Asaankarobarfinancescheme
Petrosian represents the ultimate wildcard. If she lands a clean quadruple jump in the free skate — which she’s been practicing all week — she could leapfrog multiple skaters and upset the entire podium.
Team USA’s “Blade Angels” — Where They Stand
Representing Team USA are Amber Glenn and Isabeau Levito; the three women are known collectively as the “Blade Angels,” and they’ll all be competing in the free skate. ACAD
Alysa Liu — 3rd Place (Medal Contention)
The lone American with a legitimate shot at the podium.
Isabeau Levito — 8th Place
Her performance didn’t blow the arena away but was classy enough to see her sit in eighth. TikTok
Amber Glenn — 13th Place
Glenn, the three-time reigning U.S. champion, was right in the mix until her final jump. After landing a huge opening triple axel, she kept the momentum going with a triple flip-triple toe loop. But something seemed amiss as Glenn approached her triple loop, and she wound up bailing out of it. The resulting double loop became an invalid element and earned her no points. The Educationist Hub
Glenn’s costly mistake on her final jump has essentially ended her medal hopes, though she’ll still compete in the free skate.
Free Skate Technical Requirements
The free skate can last no more than 4 minutes, and has to include the following: seven jump elements, of which one has to be an Axel-type jump; three spins, of which one has to be a spin combination, one has to be a flying spin, and one has to be a spin with only one position; a step sequence; and a choreographic sequence. Maryam ki Dastak
Scoring Breakdown:
- Technical Element Score (TES): Base value of jumps + GOE (Grade of Execution)
- Program Component Score (PCS): Skating skills, transitions, performance, composition, interpretation
- Deductions: -1 point for falls, time violations, or other infractions
- Final Score: TES + PCS – Deductions
How to Watch: Live Stream & TV Coverage
🇺🇸 United States Viewers:
- Live Broadcast: NBC at 1:00 PM ET
- Live Stream: Peacock (with warm-ups at 10:30 AM ET)
- Primetime Re-air: USA Network at 1:30 AM ET / NBC at 7:00 PM CT
- Platform Options: Hulu + Live TV, DirecTV, YouTube TV, FuboTV
📱 Peacock Subscription:
- Premium Plan: $10.99/month (with ads) — includes full Olympics coverage
- Premium Plus: $16.99/month (ad-free) — includes local NBC affiliate access + offline downloads
🌍 International Viewers:
Check your local Olympics broadcaster or visit Olympics.com for regional streaming options.
Medal Predictions & Expert Analysis
Gold Medal Favorite: Kaori Sakamoto (Japan)
Despite trailing by 1.48 points, Sakamoto’s consistency and championship pedigree make her the favorite. Her PCS scores are typically the highest in the field, and she thrives under pressure.
Silver Medal Prediction: Ami Nakai (Japan)
If Nakai can maintain her composure and deliver another clean free skate, she’ll secure Japan’s first 1-2 finish in women’s figure skating since 2006.
Bronze Medal Battle: Alysa Liu (USA) vs. Adeliia Petrosian (AIN)
Liu has the inside track with her third-place position, but Petrosian’s potential quad jump could be a game-changer.
Potential Podium Scenarios:
- Japanese Sweep: Sakamoto gold, Nakai silver, Chiba bronze
- USA Bronze: Sakamoto gold, Nakai silver, Liu bronze
- Upset Special: Petrosian lands quad, crashes podium
USA’s 20-Year Olympic Drought
The U.S. has not had a woman stand atop an Olympic podium since Sarah Hughes at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games. No woman has medaled at all since Sasha Cohen in Turin in 2006. Asaankarobarfinancescheme
Alysa Liu represents America’s best chance in two decades to break this drought and return to the Olympic podium in women’s figure skating.
Historic Context: Age Rule Changes & Russian Absence
Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the International Olympic Committee suspended the Olympic Committees of Russia and Belarus. The Figure Skating Federation of Russia was permitted to nominate one skater from each discipline to participate as Individual Neutral Athletes (AINs). Adeliia Petrosian of Russia earned a spot at the Olympics as an Individual Neutral Athlete. Maryam ki Dastak
Additionally, figure skating raised its minimum age from 15 to 17 in 2023, a change that was implemented after controversies at the 2022 Beijing Olympics. This rule affects the competitive landscape significantly.
What Makes This Free Skate So Special
- Closest Competition in Decades: Only 2.12 points separate the top three
- Sakamoto’s Swan Song: The legend’s final Olympic performance
- Liu’s Redemption Arc: From retirement to potential Olympic glory
- Nakai’s Breakout: A 17-year-old leading at the Olympics
- Quad Jump Drama: Will Petrosian attempt the high-risk move?
- USA Drought Watch: 20 years since a medal
Final Thoughts
Thursday’s women’s free skate at Milano Cortina 2026 promises to be one of the most memorable Olympic figure skating finals in history. With razor-thin margins, generational talent, farewell performances, and comeback stories all converging on the ice, this is must-watch television for sports fans worldwide.
Will Kaori Sakamoto claim the one title that has eluded her? Can Ami Nakai hold onto gold in her Olympic debut? Or will Alysa Liu bring home America’s first medal in 20 years?
Tune in Thursday, February 19 at 1:00 PM ET on NBC and Peacock to witness history.
