Olympic Pairs Skating Free Skate Thrills After Surprise-Filled Short Program
The Olympic pairs skating free skate at the Milan Cortina Games is scheduled for Monday at 2 p.m. ET. Following an unexpected and dramatic short program, the competition intensified as the world’s premier pairs teams vie for Olympic medals.
Shocking Short Program Outcomes
Heading into the short program, Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara were the favorites for the gold medal. However, they experienced a significant setback and dropped to 5th place after making a crucial error. Despite this, the reigning two-time world champions could still aim for the top, thanks to their impressive technical skills planned for the free skate.
In stark contrast, German pair Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin delivered an outstanding performance, achieving a personal-best score of 80.01 points. Their flawless routine, featuring a triple twist and strong side-by-side jumps, secured them a commanding 4.55-point lead. This lead marks the largest margin recorded in an Olympic pairs short program since the judging system revamped in 2004.
Current Standings and Medal Prospects
With their exceptional performance, Hase and Volodin aim to bring home Germany’s first Olympic medal in figure skating since 2018. The competition for medals remains fierce as only 2.35 points separate 2nd place from 5th. The Georgian duo of Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava are poised to challenge the Germans while also distancing themselves from other competitors.
- 3rd place: Canada’s Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud are making strides with a personal-best score, showcasing both talent and emotional depth in their performance.
- 4th place: Hungary’s Maria Pavlova and Alexei Sviatchenko are now within reach of an Olympic podium finish after also achieving a personal-best score.
Unexpected Twists from Top Contenders
A significant surprise came from the 2024 world champions, Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps. Their 14th place in the short program leaves them with an uphill battle in the free skate. Deschamps expressed disappointment over an unexpected fall during a lift, which he described as a rarity for their team.
“It’s a new day tomorrow,” Deschamps said, emphasizing the team’s resolve to regroup and perform to the best of their abilities.
Team USA’s Position
- 7th place: Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea recorded a season-best score of 71.87.
- 9th place: Emily Chan and Spencer Akira Howe are also in contention.
The United States has not secured an Olympic medal in pairs skating since 1988. Both teams will be looking to make a significant impact in the upcoming free skate, striving for excellence in a highly competitive field.
