Photos by Melanie Heaney

This is my last buongiorno from Milano!

It is already time to get ready to head back home, with this incredible experience reaching its end with the Women’s Final.

The short programme day was quite incredible, with most skaters delivering beautiful performances with very few mistakes. The free managed to even exceed that: the top thirteen skaters all scored more than 200 points in total, which is a sign of how seriously all the women took to the ice, determined to deliver their best skates and showcase the high quality within the field.

The gold medal went to a fantastic Alysa Liu, who went out there with her usual big smile and positive attitude. She was third after the short, but her free was skated almost as if she were performing in a gala, with a lot of enjoyment and making it look like an easy ride.

Alysa’s attitude towards stressful situations should be studied! I really admire her ability to compete in one of an athlete’s most stressful events and deliver with such a happy and positive attitude. She was shining in her gold dress and added another layer of gold with her medal.

Alysa was sixth at the 2022 Winter Games and did not participate in the team event back then. This time, she leaves the Olympics with two gold medals around her neck.

Asked about how she manages to be so positive, she said it is because her family and friends are a great support, and she feels she is in a great position to show the attitude she does.

She is also keen to raise awareness about mental health in sport and in general, admitting that her first skating experience was a rough one, but now she feels so much better.

She wanted to emphasise that the most important part of her story is human connection. That is all she wants, and she is aware that she is now connected to a lot of people. Protecting her identity is also a goal she has: she does not go online that much, likes to hang out with her friends, and tries to stay as grounded as possible to keep herself sane.

Kaori Sakamoto, the divine (if I may call her that), skated elegantly, placing second in both segments to secure the silver medal. It is known that this is Kaori’s last season, and it is already “time to say goodbye”.

Kaori is a true inspiration. At her third Winter Olympics, she adds this silver to the one she won at this Team Event, as well as to her silver from the 2022 Olympic Team Event and her bronze from the individual event.

This silver medal is not exactly what Kaori came to Milan for. She wanted gold. She knew she had what it takes to win it, and she fought until the end. Her practices were nearly perfect all the time, but the Olympics are the Olympics. Everyone brings their best game, and any small mistake makes a big difference. In the mixed zone, Kaori could not hold back the tears, knowing she was less than two points away from her Olympic dream.

“It is really frustrating, or rather, I have regrets,” she said in the press conference. “I have worked so hard up to this point that I feel frustrated. I hope I can focus on this quest and move on to the next step in my career.”

Her legacy is immense, and she will be missed, but she is already thinking about her next chapter as a coach, ready to help and inspire the new generations of skaters.

Speaking of the new generations, let us talk about the bronze medallist, Ami Nakai. At only 17 years of age, she landed a triple Axel in both her short and free programmes, delivering beautiful skates that allowed her to win her first Olympic medal. In the kiss and cry, she did not immediately realise she was a medallist and looked towards Alysa Liu, Kaori Sakamoto and Mone Chiba, asking if she was third while showing three fingers on one hand. Immediately after realising it, Alysa jumped up with joy and went over to a tearful Ami to give her a big hug.

Ami’s practices before the free programme were not very consistent, but that did not matter. What counted was that she was able to focus when it mattered most. She said this experience was incredibly valuable for her and admitted that she needs to continue working on her triple Axel, a jump she will need in the future. She also was not shy about admitting that she will work hard to qualify for the next Olympics.

IOC President Kirsty Coventry and ISU President Jae Youl Kim awarded the medals and gifts.

There are so many other skaters I would need to mention, starting from Mone Chiba’s flawless performances that earned her fourth place overall, to Amber Glenn’s inspiring comeback from thirteenth in the short programme to third in the free, finishing fifth overall. Everyone competing in this final needs to be proud of themselves.

Meanwhile, some of our ice dance teams are already back practicing in the dedicated rink in Milano whilst continuing to enjoy the Games, attending events and living the Olympic spirit as much as they can.

The other day, Olympic superstar and GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) Simone Biles was at the practice rink! She and Anthony Ponomarenko were doing flips off the ice. I do not think it will be long before we see Simone with skates on, attempting to learn some skating moves (Lilah Fear is incredible keen to teach her some!).

Matteo