Womens Single Skating Free Skate

Womens Single Skating Free Skate – 2026 Winter Olympics

Milano Ice Skating Arena, Milan, Italy — February 19, 2026

The women’s singles figure skating competition at the 2026 Winter Olympics reached its climax with the free skating segment on February 19, concluding one of the most anticipated individual events of the Games. Skaters who qualified from the short program returned to the Olympic ice for four minutes of artistry, speed, and technical daring — a performance that would determine Olympic medals.

How the Free Skate Works

In the free skate, athletes are given significantly more freedom than in the short program, but strict technical requirements still apply:

• Maximum duration: 4 minutes

• Seven jump elements (including at least one Axel jump)

• Three spins, step sequence, and choreographic sequence
  This is where skaters earn most of their score — both through high-risk jumps (triples and quads) and expressive program components.

The Road to the Free Skate

After the short program on February 17:

• Ami Nakai (JPN, 17) surprised the figure skating world by taking the lead with a powerful triple Axel and confident performance.

• Japanese veteran Kaori Sakamoto, skating in her last competitive season, stood close behind with a polished routine.

• U.S. World Champion Alysa Liu held third place, marking a strong return to Olympic ice after a retirement hiatus.

• Fellow Americans Isabeau Levito and Amber Glenn remained in the field, with Glenn later weathering emotional ups and downs after a short program mistake.

This set the stage for a dramatic free skate, with medals far from certain and hopes high on both sides of the Pacific.

🥇 Free Skate Results & Medalists

The final standings after the women’s free skating — and the event’s medal winners — were:

Sakamoto sealed her place at the top of the podium with a commanding free skate, blending technical jumps and fluid movement. Gubanova’s performance was a major achievement for Georgian figure skating. Glenn, who had fallen short in the short program, delivered one of the competition’s strongest free skates — emotionally and technically — to earn bronze.

Highlights & Storylines

Kaori Sakamoto — A Champion’s Farewell

Sakamoto, a three-time World Champion and one of Japan’s most consistent competitors, capped her career with Olympic gold — a pinnacle achievement that had eluded her in previous Games.

🇯🇵 Japanese Skating Power

Japan’s sweep of the top short program rankings and a gold medal in the free skate highlighted the nation’s depth and rising talent — from Nakai’s breakout to Sakamoto’s championship leadership.

🇺🇸 Resilience of Amber Glenn

Glenn’s story was one of Olympic resilience. After a critical mistake in the short program, she used the free skate as redemption — and captured a podium berth, a powerful emotional moment after earlier disappointment.

Anastasiia Gubanova’s Breakthrough

Competing for Georgia, Gubanova’s silver marked a breakthrough moment for her country on the Olympic figure skating stage — a testament to how the sport continues to globalize.

Legacy of the Competition

The women’s singles free skate represented not just athletic skill but narrative — young talent meeting seasoned grace, redemption after setbacks, and smaller nations punching above their weight. The balance of technical difficulty and artistic finesse reinforced why figure skating remains one of the most beloved and dramatic Winter Olympic sports.