Team USA Edges Out Japan for Figure Skating Gold in High-Stakes Finale
Milan, Sunday, 8 February 2026.
Tied at 59 points entering the final skate, Team USA clinched consecutive Olympic golds as Ilia Malinin’s decisive performance narrowly edged out Japan by a single point.
The Quad God Seals the Victory
While we previously analyzed Ilia Malinin’s arrival in Milan with high expectations for his revolutionary technical mastery, the conclusion of the team event has solidified his status as an Olympic closer. On February 7, the United States secured its second consecutive Olympic gold in the figure skating team event, a victory that hinged on the final performances at the Milano Ice Skating Arena [3]. The triumph was far from guaranteed; entering the final phase of the competition on Saturday, the United States and Japan were deadlocked at 59 points apiece [1][3]. This statistical equilibrium was forced by a stellar performance from Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto in the women’s free skate, where she scored 148.62, effectively erasing Team USA’s earlier advantage and setting the stage for a winner-takes-all finale [3].
Analytical Breakdown of the Finale
The gold medal was ultimately decided by the men’s free skate, featuring a direct showdown between Malinin and Japan’s Shun Sato [3]. Malinin delivered under the immense pressure of the tie-break scenario, posting a decisive score of 200.03 compared to Sato’s 194.86 [3]. This performance gap of 5.17 points on the ice translated into the critical team standing points needed to break the deadlock [3]. Consequently, the United States edged out Japan by a single point in the final aggregate standings, relegating the Japanese team to the silver medal [3]. The host nation, Italy, gave the home crowd cause for celebration by securing the bronze medal [1][3].
A Historic Day on the Slopes
Beyond the ice rink, February 7 proved to be a pivotal day for American winter sports. Skier Breezy Johnson claimed the first U.S. gold medal of the Milan Cortina Games, winning the women’s downhill event [3]. However, the triumph on the slopes was tempered by concern for legendary skier Lindsey Vonn. The 41-year-old, who had announced her intention to race despite a torn ACL sustained in late January, crashed during competition [4]. The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Team confirmed on February 8 that Vonn is in stable condition following the incident [3].
Global Podium Shifts
The opening days of the Games have also seen historic firsts for other nations. Switzerland’s Franjo von Allmen captured the gold in the men’s downhill, becoming the youngest champion in that discipline since 2014 [2]. Meanwhile, Italy found success on the speed skating track, with Francesca Lollobrigida winning gold in the women’s 3,000-meter event on February 6, setting a new Olympic record of 3:54.28 [2]. As the Games progress, the focus now shifts to the upcoming curling semifinals and the continuation of the Alpine skiing events scheduled for later today [3].