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Teen Skater Leads as Japan Outshines US at Olympics
18 Feb
Summary
- Teenager Ami Nakai leads the Olympic women's figure skating short program.
- Japanese skaters took top spots, with only one American breaking into the top four.
- US skaters experienced difficulties, facing a long-standing medal drought.
Japanese figure skaters have seized the spotlight at the Olympic women's competition, with teenager Ami Nakai unexpectedly leading after the short program. Nakai delivered a personal best score, including a triple axel, to edge out three-time world champion Kaori Sakamoto. The strong performance by Nakai and her compatriots puts them in a favorable position for the upcoming free skate.
Team USA's hopes for ending a two-decade medal drought faced challenges as most of their skaters struggled. Alysa Liu was the sole American to break into the top ranks, securing a spot in the podium hunt. However, her teammates Isabeau Levito and Amber Glenn finished outside the top contenders, with Glenn experiencing a costly error. Adeliia Petrosian of Russia, competing as a neutral athlete, secured fifth place.
The competition will culminate in the free skate on Thursday, where medals will be awarded. Japanese skaters, aiming for a historic clean sweep, will face pressure from Liu and potentially Petrosian as they vie for podium finishes.
