Olympic Pairs Short Program: Germany Takes the Lead, Japan Faces Uphill Battle
The Olympic ice witnessed a captivating pairs short program competition, with Germany’s Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin seizing the top spot after a masterful performance to Maxime Rodriguez’s “El Abrazo.” Their controlled and elegant routine earned them a personal best score of 80.01 points, establishing a significant lead over their rivals.
A Tight Race for the Podium
Close behind, Georgia’s Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava delivered a solid skate, continuing their impressive breakout season. Despite a slightly tentative feel compared to recent outings, they secured 2nd place with 75.46 points, positioning themselves well for the free skate. The duo, fresh off their European title, showcased their signature speed and attacking style, remaining strong contenders for a gold medal.
Breakthrough Performances and Emotional Skates
The 2026 Canadian champions, Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud, delivered a particularly emotional performance to Jessie Ware’s “Say You Love Me.” Their skate was rewarded with a personal best score, propelling them into 3rd place – a remarkable achievement for a team that has only been skating together since 2022. “After being pretty content with the short program in the team event, we still came out wanting more,” Pereira shared. “We’re very motivated people and we always want to put out our best. Today we did that, so it’s a really nice kind of full-circle moment to do that at the Olympics.”
Solid Skates and Unexpected Challenges
Hungary’s Maria Pavlova and Alexei Sviatchenko posted a commendable short program, earning a well-deserved score in their Olympic debut. The 2026 European bronze medalists, who finished 4th at the 2024 World Championships, skated to “Without You,” staying within striking distance of the leaders. The competition remains incredibly close, with only 2.35 points separating 2nd and 5th place.
In a surprising turn of events, Japan’s Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, considered favorites for gold, faced a significant setback with a drastic error on their lift during their “Paint It, Black” short program. Despite demonstrating their usual power, skating skills, and unison, the mistake left them with lost points and a challenging position heading into the free skate.
Resilience and Determination on Display
The day also saw inspiring performances from veteran skaters. Deanna Stellato-Dudek, 42, realized her Olympic dream after a 16-year retirement. Despite a recent injury scare, the three-time national champions took to the ice, delivering a solid performance until a late-program trip. “We were really enjoying being out there, and that’s the most important thing,” said Deschamps. “I was proud of Deanna. We did great until that mistake that was extremely costly, but overall, we’re just proud of being able to skate and represent our country.”
American Teams Shine
The 2026 Milan Cortina U.S. Olympic figure skating team event gold medalists, Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea, appear to have found a new level of confidence. They delivered a composed and energizing skate, placing 7th and becoming the top American team. The 2024 U.S. champions earned a season’s best score of 71.87 points. “I’m really proud of the program today, but little disappointed in myself,” O’Shea admitted. “I left some points out there with some levels that I normally don’t do. So, I’m annoyed at myself for that, but at the end of the day, I think that the performance itself is something we’re really proud of. We stayed on our feet, got rid of those bigger mistakes, and got a season’s best.”
Emily Chan and Spencer Howe also showcased their potential, landing a decisive skate in Warm-Up Group 2 and securing 9th place with a score of 70.06 points.
Full Results can be found on NBCOlympics.com.
The pairs competition promises to be a thrilling event, with the free skate set to determine the medalists. Will Hase and Volodin maintain their lead, or will other teams rise to the occasion?
