Shin Ji-a, representing South Korea, delivered an impressive performance at the women’s short program during the team event in figure skating at the Winter Olympics, held at the Milano Ice Skating Arena in Milan on February 6, 2026. The 17-year-old skater secured a commendable fourth place, scoring 68.80 points amidst a highly competitive field of 10 skaters.
In her performance, Shin achieved 37.93 points for her technical elements, which include crucial jumps, spins, and step sequences, alongside an additional 30.87 points for her artistry and program presentation. Despite this strong showing, she finished just shy of the top three placements, a position currently held by Japanese skater Kaori Sakamoto, who topped the short program with a score of 78.88 points, followed by Alysa Lu from the United States and Italy’s Lara Naki Gutmann.
Shin’s performance showcased a clean triple lutz-triple toe loop combination and a double axel, though she had a slight wobble on the landing of her triple flip towards the end of her routine. This performance marks a notable moment in her Olympic journey, especially as her season-best score was 74.47 points achieved at the Nebelhorn Trophy in September 2025.
In the team standings, South Korea accumulated seven points from Shin’s placement, while ice dancers Hannah Lim and Quan Ye secured four points in their rhythm dance, placing them in seventh overall. The South Korean team is currently facing a challenge as they lack representation in the pairs event, limiting their medal contention options. The competition format allows teams to collect points based on placement, with the leading team, the United States, currently in front with 25 points.
As the team event progresses, the competition will include the men’s singles short program and ice dance free dance segments on Saturday, concluding with the free skates in the various disciplines on Sunday. Despite the current standings, there remains optimism for future performances as the athletes continue to strive for excellence on this prestigious international stage.