MILAN, Feb. 15 (Xinhua) — Germany’s Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin led the pairs determine skating after posting a season-best 80.01 factors in the short program on Sunday at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
Skating to French composer Maxime Rodriguez’s El Abrazo, the pair led in each technical parts and program elements, opening up a snug 4.55-point cushion. Georgian pair Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava positioned second, whereas Canada’s Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud sat third.
China’s returning Olympic champions Sui Wenjing and Han Cong confirmed enchancment from their group occasion outing. Regardless of Sui making an error on the opening triple toeloop, the pair regrouped rapidly and accomplished the remainder of their routine with stability, touchdown parts together with a triple twist elevate, throw triple flip and backward inside loss of life spiral. They completed sixth with 72.66 factors.
Talking about their third and possibly remaining Olympic marketing campaign, Han stated though they nonetheless needed to compete for the gold, there have been additionally different objectives to obtain.
“We wish to expertise life and in addition totally expertise this Olympics. We hope to encourage extra younger athletes and share the spirit of our sport with them. We wish them to see that even when you solely practice for half a 12 months, you’ll be able to nonetheless stand on the Olympic stage – and if we will do it, you are able to do it too,” stated Han.
The highest 16 pairs, out of 19, superior to Monday’s free skate. ■
