A Japanese figure skater topping the women's singles standings after Tuesday's short program was hardly a surprise. The fact that it was first-year senior, Ami Nakai (ah-mee nah-kah-ee), was not as widely predicted.
The 17-year-old was assured and undeniable in her Olympic debut, landing a triple Axel and joining an exclusive handful of women who have successfully competed the jump on international ice.
Nakai scored a personal best of 78.71 points, skating to "La Strada" by Nino Rota. She bested veterans from the U.S. and her own country alike, including three-time world champion, Kaori Sakamoto, and reigning world champion, Alysa Liu.
Sakamoto is not far behind, having earned a 77.23 in her quest for her first Olympic gold.
The 1.48-point margin she trails Nakai by is entirely surmountable for Sakamoto in Thursday's free skate. However, if these Games have taught us anything, it's that no result is certain until the skaters hit their final poses.
Mastering the most difficult jump in women's skating
Just last year, Nakai finished 15th at Japanese nationals. Since then, she has splashed onto the international scene with a formidable senior debut. She is the 2026 Four Continents silver medalist, 2025-26 Grand Prix Final silver medalist, 2025 Grand Prix de France champion and 2025 Skate Canada bronze medalist.
While Nakai received personal best scores for the qualitative aspects of her performance as well, the five-point boost she received from doing the triple Axel over a double was integral to her 1st-place finish.
Nakai first landed a triple Axel at the 2022 Coupe du Printemps in Luxembourg at just 14 years old. To compete it here would be surreal for even the most seasoned of skaters.
“I feel like I'm dreaming," she said of her first competitive outing on Olympic ice. “I just tried to stay in my skate, and have a good time for the rest of the skate.”
She leads the pack of 24 skaters competing in Thursday's free skate, where women's singles medals will be awarded. Scores from Tuesday's short program roll over and are combined with free skate results to yield the Olympic podium. Nakai has more she hopes to accomplish in Milan, but is also determined to absorb her first Olympic experience while it lasts.
“I want to make sure I land the triple Axel and then enjoy the performance until the very end of it.”
Even at the Olympic level, very few women are capable of performing the jump. Sakamoto, who was favored for gold ahead of the short program, does not attempt to compete it. Team USA's Amber Glenn is the only other member of the women's singles field who has landed it in a program here, but a costly, popped triple loop by Glenn in her short program neutralized any advantage she had.
Nakai acknowledged the strength of the U.S. contingency at these Games, noting their technical prowess as a source of motivation.
“The Americans push me with their difficult jumps, including the triple Axel," she said. "But at the same time, they're all very nice people, so I just want to enjoy my time with them on the ice.”
Nakai seeks her first Olympic medal in Milan
Team Japan went with their thoroughly-tested option when constructing their roster for the Olympic team event, electing to have Sakamoto skate both segments. The reigning Olympic bronze medalist has announced that the Milan Cortina Games will be her last.
The choice paid off for Japan and Sakamoto won both the short and free programs. While they were edged out by the U.S. for gold, they could not have asked for a better result from their veteran. Team medals are awarded only to those who participate in the event, meaning Nakai has yet to earn a medal in Milan.
Could her first Olympic medal be a gold one? Despite the current standings, Nakai is not optimistic about holding onto her lead.
“I don’t stand a chance against Kaori right now," she said after her short program. "I'm just enjoying these Olympics, and trying my best to keep at it.”
The Olympic figure skating women's event continues with the free skate on Thursday, Feb. 19 at 1 p.m. ET. The event will stream on Peacock and NBCOlympics.com, and will air on NBC.