2026 Winter Olympics women’s single free skating schedule and results: Who is leading and top medal contenders

The women’s singles figure skating competition at the 2026 Winter Olympics will conclude later on Thursday, February 19, when the free skating segment decides the Olympic medals in Milan. No medals have been awarded yet. The final standings will be determined after tonight’s free skate, where scores from the short programme and free skating will be combined to decide gold, silver and bronze.

Winter Olympics women’s single free skating event schedule and format

The Olympic women’s singles event is held in two segments:

• Short programme: February 17
• Free skating (medal round): February 19

The free skate is the longer routine and carries a higher scoring value, often reshaping the standings from the short programme.

Winter Olympics women’s single free skating leaders after short programme

Following the short programme earlier this week, the competition remains tightly contested:

1st: Ami Nakai (Japan)
2nd: Kaori Sakamoto (Japan)
3rd: Alysa Liu (USA)

The narrow margin between the top skaters leaves the podium wide open ahead of the final performances.

The free skating segment is decisive in Olympic figure skating because it allows athletes to attempt more complex jumps and combinations and contributes a larger share of the total score.

A clean, high-difficulty routine can lift a skater into medal position, while errors can lead to significant drops in the standings.

2026 Winter Olympics women’s single free skating contenders to watch

Kaori Sakamoto – the experienced Japanese skater known for consistency under pressure
Ami Nakai – the current leader after the short programme
Alysa Liu – the leading American contender for the podium

All three remain in strong contention for medals, with several other finalists still capable of moving into the top three depending on their free skate performances.

Winter Olympics women’s single free skating results timings

The women’s free skating final is scheduled for Thursday evening in Milan, with official results expected shortly after the event concludes once judges confirm the scores.

With a tight leaderboard and high stakes, the women’s free skating final promises to deliver one of the most closely fought finishes of the figure skating programme at Milano Cortina, where Olympic champions will be crowned later today.