In an unexpected turn of events at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, German figure skaters Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin seized the lead in the pairs short program on Sunday night. Their performance, which earned them a score of 80.01 points, emerged as a highlight amid a series of missteps by other top contenders.
Performing to “El Abrazo” by French composer Maxime Rodriguez, Hase and Volodin executed a flawless opening with a triple twist and solid side-by-side triple salchows. Their show concluded with a spectacular throw triple loop, marking a significant achievement for the duo, who have previously faced consistency challenges. “Our goal was to go out there and feel like we do in practice and just do our job,” Hase reflected after their routine. “We’re happy overall. The crowd was amazing.”
Following them in the standings were Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava from Georgia, who managed to secure 75.46 points despite a mistake on their throw triple flip. The duo is aiming to make history by securing Georgia’s first-ever Olympic medal in the Winter Games. Canadian pair Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud rounded out the top three with 74.60 points, indicating a tightly contested race for podium positions in the upcoming free skate.
Meanwhile, the expectations for Japan’s world champions, Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, have taken a hit. Their performance was marred by a significant error during a lift, dropping them to fifth place with a score of 73.11. This was a stark contrast to their previous career-best of 82.84 points achieved in the team event just the week prior.
Defending Olympic champions Sui Wenjing and Han Cong experienced their own challenges, finishing with 72.66 points after a fall during their opening execution. Despite the setback, Han reflected positively, “This is a good memory because this is our third time at the Olympics. We wanted to show what we have now.”
Despite falling short of their goals, Deanna Stellato-Dudek and her partner Maxime Deschamps demonstrated resilience, especially after Stellato-Dudek’s recovery from a recent injury. They scored 66.04 points following an uncharacteristic fall during their performance. American pairs were represented by Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea, who were the top U.S. team in seventh place, earning 71.87 points. Their comments highlighted a shift in the trajectory of U.S. pairs skating, as they seek to achieve their first Olympic medal since 1988.
The unexpected developments set the stage for an intense competition ahead, as many pairs continue to vie for glory at the Winter Games. With resiliency and determination, the skaters’ performances have not only captivated the audience but have also revived hopes for a promising future in the sport, particularly for American pairs, who look to rise to new heights.