Milan, Italy, February 19, 2026: Japan had to settle for silver and bronze in the women’s figure skating competition at Milano Cortina 2026 on Thursday.
Reigning world champion Alysa Liu of the United States delivered a commanding free skate to post a season-best 150.20 points and take the gold medal with 226.79. She was in third place after the short programme with 76.59.
Three-time world champion Kaori Sakamoto won the silver medal on 224.90 after recording the second-best score in both the short programme (77.23) and free skate (147.67), and 17-year-old Ami Nakai earned the bronze with 219.16.
Nakai led the field after the short programme (78.71) but her 140.45 in the free skate was only the ninth best of the night, allowing both Liu and Sakamoto to overtake her.
A third Japanese skater, Mone Chiba, was fourth on 217.88 (74.00/143.88).
The 25-year-old Sakamoto bid farewell to the Games after three appearances with three silver medals and a bronze, which she won in the individual event four years ago at Beijing 2022.
“I only felt regret,” she said. “But I guess this is how my story ends. It hurts, I have to admit.
“I’ve come this far and I couldn’t get it done. The frustration is unbearable. I felt like the bronze medal last time was a miracle, and I’m wearing a better medal around my neck yet I’m frustrated - which probably says a lot about all the work I put in the last four years.
“And for that, I just want to give myself a pat on the back.”
Sakamoto will now pass on those hopes to future pupils as she embarks on a new career as coach.