Milano Cortina 2026 Team Event Final: USA and Japan Lead the Pack
The team event final at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 is shaping up to be a close competition, with USA and Japan leading the pack with 34 and 33 points, respectively. Italy, Canada, and Georgia have also secured spots in the final. In the men's short program segment, Kagiyama Yuma's performance edged out Ilia Malinin, putting Team USA in the lead with 34 points heading into the final.
Malinin's much-anticipated Olympic debut featured a quad flip instead of his signature quad Axel, earning him 98.00 points and securing Team USA's position in the lead. On the other hand, Kagiyama delivered a stellar performance, receiving a season's best score of 108.77 and showcasing impressive jumps and spins. Stephen Gogolev's standout performance improved his personal best by almost three points, securing Canada's spot in the final.
Cha Junhwan faced challenges in his third Olympic Games, with a mixed performance that included a strong quad Salchow but a popped triple Axel. Despite the setback, Cha remains positive and looks forward to his individual event. With Republic of Korea not fielding pairs skaters in the team event, their chances of advancing to the final were slim, but the experience was still valuable for the team.
As the Milano Cortina 2026 team event unfolds, the competition is heating up with key skaters and teams vying for the top spot. Stay tuned for more updates on the live blog and follow the exciting action as the teams battle it out for Olympic glory.