Surprising Short Program Sets Stage for Olympic Pairs Figure Skating Finale
The Olympic pairs figure skating finale is set for Monday at 2 p.m. ET during the Milan Cortina Games. The atmosphere is charged as teams vie for Olympic glory following a surprising short program.
Shifting Dynamics After the Short Program
Pre-competition favorites Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara fell to fifth place after a costly mistake. Despite being two-time world champions, their path to gold has become challenging.
Leading After the Short Program
Germany’s Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin delivered an impressive performance, achieving a personal-best score of 80.01 points. Their skate featured a flawless triple twist, strong side-by-side jumps, and a clean throw triple loop, leading them by 4.55 points. This margin is the largest since the current judging system was adopted in 2004.
Contenders to Watch
- Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava (Georgia): Currently in 2nd place, they aim to overtake Germany in the final.
- Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud (Canada): With a personal best, they sit in 3rd but have shown inconsistency this season.
- Maria Pavlova and Alexei Sviatchenko (Hungary): Close behind in 4th place after their personal-best score, they are also in medal contention.
Unexpected Setbacks
Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps, the 2024 world champions, ended up in 14th place. They had an unforeseen fall during a lift — a move they typically execute successfully. Stellato-Dudek referred to the incident as a “complete surprise,” while Deschamps expressed optimism for their upcoming performance.
Team USA Performance
In the competition, Team USA’s Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea achieved a season-best score of 71.87, placing 7th. Emily Chan and Spencer Akira Howe are currently in 9th place. The United States seeks its first Olympic pairs medal since 1988, adding pressure to perform in the free skate.
Looking Ahead
As the final approaches, the stakes are high. With a mix of established champions and emerging talents, the Olympic pairs figure skating finale promises excitement and unpredictability. Each team’s performance will determine who walks away with Olympic honors.
