Shin Ji-a Posts Personal Best 141.02 in Free Skate, Wins Segment but Finishes Second Overall in Olympic Debut
Shin Ji-a delivered a standout performance in her Olympic individual debut, posting a personal-best 141. 02 in the free skate and winning the free program while finishing with a total of 206. 68 points overall on Feb. 19, 2026 (ET).
Shin Ji-a Delivers 141. 02 Free Skate Despite Early Error
Shin Ji-a opened her free skate with confidence but suffered a wobbly landing on a triple loop early in the program. She recovered and completed the rest of her elements strongly, compiling a technical element score of 75. 05 and a program component score of 65. 97 for the 141. 02 total in the free skate. That mark not only set a personal best for the segment but also surpassed her season best, reflecting a marked improvement from her earlier short program score of 65. 66.
Free Skate Victory, Overall Result and Reactions
By winning the free skate segment, Shin Ji-a earned applause for a composed comeback after the short program miscues. Her free skate raised her total to 206. 68 points, leaving her narrowly short of a higher overall placement as another skater posted a larger combined score. Despite that, Shin Ji-a showed visible relief and emotion at the end of her skate, even pumping a fist in celebration of the personal milestone.
Reflections, Recovery and Next Ambitions
Shin Ji-a described the performance as the best she could deliver aside from the single mistake, saying that she had been nervous before her turn but reminded herself that the jumps felt manageable. She called the Olympic experience eye-opening and motivating, noting disappointment over earlier jump miscues in both the short program and the free skate but using the result as fuel for future goals. After skating three times at her first Olympics, she allowed herself a light moment: her coach promised to buy her gelato, and she said pistachio is her favorite flavor.
On the technical front, Shin Ji-a said off-ice training paid off and that she hopes to add a more challenging element, such as a triple axel, in future programs. While the skater acknowledged room for improvement, the personal best in the free skate and the composed recovery from the early error make this Olympic debut a clear step forward in her competitive development.
