“It’s true that my dream has turned into a goal,” Ami Nakai said, reflecting on how her perspective on the Olympics has changed since before the season
Ami Nakai opened her practice to the media on the 28th at her home rink, Mitsui Fudosan Ice Park Funabashi in Chiba.
original source: Nikkansports, 28th November 2025
Ami Nakai (17), preparing for her first Grand Prix Final, is focused on delivering her best performance and refining her triple axel, viewing the event as a key step toward Olympic selection. Here’s a translation of her comments posted on Nikkansports.
“I think things have been heading in a good direction since the Canada event,” she said, expressing confidence in her progress.
In October, Nakai became the third Japanese woman to win her debut Grand Prix event at the France competition. She then earned a bronze medal at the Canada event in November, becoming the first to secure a spot in the Final. With her rising profile, 64 reporters from 29 media outlets gathered to watch her practice, and Nakai was even seen counting them herself before practice. “I didn’t expect so many people to come. With so many more media than I anticipated, I was really nervous,” she said with a bright smile.
The GP Final is considered a key prelude to the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics. While the world’s top skaters will gather, Nakai sees it as a rehearsal for the Japanese Nationals in Tokyo, which will serve as the final Olympic selection event. “Honestly, I’m not thinking about placement at all. My main goal is to deliver my best performance,” she said, making her purpose clear. She plans to attempt one triple axel in both the short program and free skate, adding, “I want to use the Final to see how I handle the nerves and pressure.”
At her open practice, Nakai spoke clearly about her mindset for her senior debut season and the GP Final: “It still doesn’t feel real. I think I’ll feel the nerves once I get to the venue, but right now I’m just looking forward to the competition.” With more than ten TV cameras and over 50 reporters present, she admitted, “I was really nervous because so many more media people came than I expected, but I was able to practice as usual.”
Looking ahead to the Milan Olympics, Nakai recognizes the importance of the GP Final in the selection process. “It’s true that my dream has turned into a goal,” she said, reflecting on how her perspective on the Olympics has changed since before the season. Still, she remains grounded: “I know Nationals is the most important competition. The GP Final is also a step toward Nationals. I want to solidify my axel and show consistency in my other jumps in competition,” she said.
Related topics: Ami Nakai, grand prix final
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