Winter Olympics 2026 – Figure skating pairs at Milano Cortina: Full schedule and how to watch live
As the world turns its eyes toward the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, the figure skating pairs event promises thrilling moments and fierce competitions. Leading the charge are Japan’s reigning figure skating pairs world and Grand Prix Final champions, Miura Riku and Kihara Ryuichi, aiming to clinch Japan’s first-ever Olympic medal in this discipline.
Miura and Kihara showcased their dominance this season, becoming the only pair to win twice during the Grand Prix campaign, solidifying their reputation with a triumphant Final on home turf in Nagoya. Yet, challenges lie ahead as they cope with injuries; Kihara’s lower back issues and Miura dealing with a dislocated shoulder could impact their performance.
Challenging Japan’s top contenders are Italy’s Sara Conti and Niccolò Macii, who finished as runners-up at the Grand Prix Final. With the home crowd behind them, they’ll aspire to bring Italy its inaugural Olympic medal in figure skating pairs. Furthermore, the awe-inspiring Beijing 2022 gold medalists Sui Wenjing and Han Cong from China are returning after a brief retirement, eyeing another podium finish.
The competition set to unfold on February 15 and 16 will also feature formidable opponents such as Germany’s Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin, alongside Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava from Georgia, both boasting Grand Prix titles in their careers.
Dramatic narratives unfold with former world champion Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps, representing Canada. After some struggles, the upcoming Olympic Games herald a shot at redemption for them. All eyes will be on these dynamic pairs as they compete in strongly divided heats for gold.
Be sure to catch the full action, available through various broadcasters and streaming services worldwide. The pairs short program kicks off on February 15 at 19:45 CET, followed by the pairs free skating on February 16 at 20:00 CET. Witness this exhilarating competition as elite athletes push their limits to carve out their names in Olympic history!
