olga mikutina Advances to Free Skate for Austria After Clean Short at Milan 2026
Olga Mikutina skated a focused short program on Feb. 17 at the Milan 2026 Winter Olympics, delivering a performance that moved the 22-year-old into the women’s free skate. The Ukrainian-born athlete, who trains in New Jersey while studying at Montclair State, posted a 61. 72 and will return to the Olympic ice for the free skate on Feb. 19 at 2 p. m. ET.
Short program in Milan: clean lines and a season highlight
Mikutina’s short program on Feb. 17 was notable for its composure and clarity. She earned 61. 72 points, a season-best tally that placed her among the 24 skaters advancing to the free skate. Skating for Austria, she produced a performance that met the challenge of the packed arena in Milan and showcased the technical elements and presentation judges were looking for.
The result secures Mikutina a second Olympic free skate appearance in her career. While the atmosphere in Milan contrasted with the quieter stands of her previous Olympic experience, she acknowledged the emotional lift from having family and friends in the crowd, and she steadied herself to deliver the clean short program that sent her through to the Feb. 19, 2 p. m. ET, long program.
Training in New Jersey and juggling university life
Mikutina balances elite-level preparation with academic commitments at Montclair State, where she is enrolled in a business administration program. She trains regularly in New Jersey, using local rinks to refine her programs and maintain competition readiness while managing coursework and exams.
That balancing act has defined much of her recent season. Preparing for Milan required careful coordination between training blocks, travel and classes, and Mikutina has leaned on her training team and academic advisors to stay on track. Her life in the United States has become a base from which she represents Austria on the international stage.
Second Olympics, Austrian colors and a global profile
This marks Mikutina’s second Olympic appearance; she first competed at the Games four years earlier. Now competing solely for Austria, she remains a prominent figure in the sport, a multi-time national champion who continues to refine her technical repertoire and artistic presentation under pressure.
Mikutina’s path to Milan has included training stints in both Europe and the U. S., and her presence in New Jersey has been a focal point for local skating communities. Her advancement to the free skate keeps Austria represented in the women’s singles competition and gives Mikutina another high-profile opportunity to translate training and preparation into a long-program score on Feb. 19 at 2 p. m. ET.
As the free skate approaches, attention will turn to whether Mikutina can build on her short-program momentum and convert it into a season-defining performance on Olympic ice.
