Three Japanese skaters are in position to earn medals heading into the final

Only USA's Alysa Liu broke up Japan's trio of Ami Nakai, Kaori Sakamoto and Mone Chiba, who finished first, second and fourth after the short program.

Japan's Mari Fukada wins gold, and Kokomo Murase took home the bronze.

In her final Olympic appearance, Japan's Kaori Sakamoto will be facing some stiff competition from her own teammates at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Games.

MILAN (AP) — Alysa Liu will try to end a 24-year drought for American women in Olympic figure skating on Thursday night when the “Blade Angel” attempts to chase down Japanese rivals Ami Nakai and Kaori Sakamoto in the free skate at the Milan Cortina Games.

Although it was not gold like they had hoped going into Monday's pairs figure skating final at the Winter Olympic Games, Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava made history for the country they represent. For the first time in history, Georgia has a medal at the Winter Olympics.

Minerva Hase and Nikita Volodin of Germany took a sizable lead in the Olympic pairs figure skating short program in Milano-Cortina, topping a tightly contested field ahead of Monday’s free skate.