Pairs figure skating takes the ice today at Milan Olympics, Canada leads short program

Canada’s Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud stunned judges and took early control of the 2026 Milan Olympics pairs figure skating short program. The Canadian champions delivered a brilliant performance with a combined score of 74.60 points, leading nine skaters through the first rotation today.

The Olympic pairs competition finally kicked off on February 15 at 19:45 CET, setting the stage for one of the Games’ most anticipated events. With the free skate coming tomorrow, only the top 16 teams will advance to battle for gold.

Canada Delivers Emotional Short Program in Historic Leap

Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud gave Canada its first lead of the pairs competition with an emotional, technically polished performance today. The 2026 Canadian champions executed a triple twist, throw triple loop, and commanding footwork that judges rewarded generously.

The pair’s technical elements score of 42.20 showcased their clean execution, while their program components rating of 32.40 reflected the judges’ admiration for their artistry and interpretation. This marked one of their best performances on the Olympic stage.

China and USA Push Hard as Competition Remains Wide Open

China’s Wenjing Sui and Cong Han kept pace closely in second position with 72.66 points, just 1.94 points behind Canada. The Chinese duo demonstrated strong technical prowess and showed why they’re considered medal contenders going into tomorrow’s free skate.

Team USA’s Emily Chan and Spencer Akira Howe positioned themselves competitively, while Danny O’Shea and Ellie Kam prepared to defend their team event gold. The American pairs carry momentum after their groundbreaking team competition triumph.

Pairs Figure Skating 2026 Shanghai Top Performers

Country	Pair	Score
Canada	Lia Pereira, Trennt Michaud	74.60
China	Wenjing Sui, Cong Han	72.66
USA	Emily Chan, Spencer Akira Howe	TBA
Japan	Riku Miura, Ryuichi Kihara	TBA

“Canada’s Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud give emotional performance for personal best.”

— NBC Olympics, Live Coverage

Japan Looms Large as Final Skaters Still Have Time to Strike

Japan’s Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara represent the biggest threat to Canada’s lead after excelling in the team event short program. The Japanese pair enters as strong favorites for Olympic gold and brings technically demanding routines that consistently impress judges.

With multiple groups still skating through the evening, the leaderboard remains in flux. Teams performing later in rotation order often benefit from increased judge awareness and higher technical ceiling opportunities.

Can Canada Hold on to Golden Opportunity at Tomorrow’s Free Skate?

Pereira and Michaud face a critical 16-hour advantage before the free skating round on February 16. Their 74.60-point cushion gives them confidence heading into the medal round, but historically tight margins in pairs skating mean nothing is guaranteed.

The free skate counts for 50% of the final score, meaning any technical mistake by the leaders could open the door for Japan, China, or the United States. All eyes return to the ice tomorrow at 20:00 CET.

Sources

• USA Today – Live coverage of pairs figure skating short program results and standings
• NBC Olympics – Official Olympic figure skating updates and performance analysis
• Sporting News – Real-time pairs standings and highlight coverage from Milan