EVERETT, Wash. — Japan’s Ami Nakai, an Olympic bronze medalist, leads Saatva Skate America, looking to earn a sweep of its two regular-season Grand Prix events.
Nakai landed a triple Axel en route to 82.20 points — the world’s best score in the short program this season — before Sunday’s free skate (4 p.m. ET, NBC and Peacock).
“I couldn’t feel my legs anymore,” she said. “I was so nervous, but I was able to trust myself.”
Nakai leads by 7.96 points over 2022 Olympic silver medalist Alexandra Ignatova of Russia, who finished second in China last week to become the first mother to reach the singles podium at a Grand Prix.
SKATE AMERICA: Complete results | Release schedule
Nakai is the best skater in women’s singles this season at the Milan Cortina Olympics. Gold medalist Alysa Liu is taking this year off. Silver medalist Kaori Sakamoto of Japan has retired.
Nakai opened the Grand Prix season last month by repeating his title as French Grand Prix champion. She will qualify for December’s six-skater Grand Prix final if she finishes first or second at Skate America, and possibly if she finishes lower.
Nakai, 18, has strived this season to perform more mature programs than last season, which was her first at the senior international level.
“Obviously I’m a year older, but I’ve also been through a lot,” she says.
Nakai can earn four wins for the Japanese in the first four of six Grand Prix regular season events. Four-time junior world champion Mao Shimada and two-time senior world medalist Mone Chiba won the final two weeks.
In her senior Grand Prix debut, American Alexa Gasparotto made history by becoming the first black woman to land a triple Axel in the Grand Prix series. Gasparotto, who placed 12th, had already landed a triple Axel in non-Grand Prix competition.
Earlier on Saturday, world bronze medalists Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik dominated the rhythm dance in their season opener.
Their score – 82.52 points – is four-hundredths off this Grand Prix season’s best score achieved by Olympic gold medalists Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron of France.
“There’s so much more to improve on, and I really feel like this isn’t our best program,” Kolesnik said. “Even in practice here, we did better.”
Zingas and Kolesnik are trying to give the United States a 17th Skate America ice dancing title in the last 18 editions.
They are America’s top dancing couple with Olympic silver medalists Madison Chock and Evan Bates taking this season off and not at all sure they will return.
Last season, Zingas and Kolesnik achieved their first Grand Prix podiums, their first Grand Prix final, won their first international title at the Four Continents Championships, then placed fifth in their Olympic debut and third in their World Championships debut.
“We accomplished so much last year when we’re on the ice, I feel like I can do anything,” Zingas said.
Skate America continues later Saturday at 9:30 a.m. ET on Peacock and NBCSN with the men’s free skate, featuring Ilia Malinin, and the pairs free skate.
Ilia Malinin is competing in Saatva Skate America for the first time this season, live on NBC Sports and Peacock.
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