U.S. Pairs Duo Delivers Career-Best Performance to Maintain Olympic Team Lead
In a high-stakes moment at the Milan Cortina Olympics, American pairs skaters Ellie Kam and Danny O'Shea rose to the occasion with the finest free skate of their careers on Sunday night. Their performance proved crucial in keeping the reigning champion United States team narrowly ahead of Japan as the team figure skating competition entered its final stages at the Milano Ice Skating Arena.
Critical Points Secured Against Strong Competition
Kam and O'Shea earned an impressive 135.36 points for their program, which featured a dynamic musical selection opening with Sweet Dreams by the Eurythmics and concluding with Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears for Fears. This score was sufficient to top the Canadian pair among the five teams that advanced to the free skates, preventing the U.S. from conceding a vital point to Japan's formidable duo, Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara.
The two-time world champions from Japan, Miura and Kihara, won the pairs segment outright with a massive 155.55 points, setting a new career-best mark by nearly eight points. Their outstanding performance allowed Japan to significantly close the gap, reducing a five-point deficit at the start of the evening to just two points as the competition progressed.
Team Standings and Medal Race Intensify
Following the pairs event, the United States held a slim lead with 51 points, while Japan trailed closely with 49 points, setting up a tense duel for the gold medal. Italy's Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii secured third place in the pairs, leaving their team with 45 points. This positioned Italy four points ahead of both Canada and Georgia, who are locked in a tight battle for the bronze medal.
Strategic Changes in Upcoming Events
In the women's competition, the U.S. team made a strategic substitution, replacing world champion Alysa Liu with three-time reigning national champion Amber Glenn, who is set to make her long-awaited Olympic debut. For Japan, Kaori Sakamoto returns after winning the short program, adding another layer of intrigue to the women's segment.
However, the entire three-day team competition may ultimately hinge on the men's free skate. After Yuma Kagiyama of Japan upset favored U.S. star Ilia Malinin in the short program, Japan has opted to bench Kagiyama in favor of Shun Sato for the free skate. Malinin will return to the ice for the Americans, with the two-time and reigning world champion aiming to redeem himself after a short program that was considered mediocre only by his exceptionally high standards. His performance could be decisive in securing a second consecutive team gold for the United States.
The final medals will be determined following the women's and men's free skates, with all eyes on the climactic showdown in Milan.
