Artistic Skating: Grassl Falters, Egadze Trails, Italy Holds Third in Team Event

The Italian figure skating team remains in third place after the men’s short program in the Team Event for the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympics. The competition, held at the Unipol Forum Arena, was challenging, particularly for Daniel Grassl, who performed under intense pressure.

Men’s Short Program Overview

Grassl, representing Italy, began in the second group and struggled with his combination, failing to execute a triple toe loop following a triple lutz. Instead, he secured only a double jump, which impacted his overall score. He also faced difficulty with a single triple rittberger, which lacked full rotation.

Despite these challenges, Grassl executed a commendable triple axel and demonstrated skill in his spins and step sequence. His final score of 87.54 placed him fifth in the rankings.

Competitor Performance

Nika Egadze from Georgia, under similar pressure, completed an error-prone short program. He faced difficulties with a triple toe loop combination and a single quadruple salchow. His performance was less fluid, earning him a score of 84.37, landing him in sixth place.

Meanwhile, Stephen Gogolev from Canada showcased a strong performance, finishing third with a score of 92.99, just one point behind Italy. This position reflects Canada’s growing momentum as they aim to close the gap.

Top Performers

• Yuma Kagiyama (Japan): Performance score of 108.67, featuring a nearly perfect routine.
• Ilia Malinin (USA): Scored 98.00 but made mistakes that affected his standing.
• Stephen Gogolev (Canada): Contributed to his team’s strong showing with a score of 92.99.

Current Team Rankings

As the competition progresses, here’s a brief overview of the standings after the men’s short program:

With only a few segments left, the competition for medal placements remains fierce. Italy is closely contending with Canada, sitting just one point ahead. The anticipation builds as the teams prepare for the upcoming free dance segment.