Ami Nakai: “When I saw the number ‘3’ next to my name, I thought, ‘Well, I guess I didn’t make it after all.’ Then, I realized it meant I had won the bronze medal. I was completely shocked and even wondered if it was real.”
At just 17 years old, Ami Nakai made history at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics as the youngest Japanese figure skater to win an Olympic medal, earning bronze and helping Japan achieve its first-ever double podium finish in women’s figure skating alongside silver medalist Kaori Sakamoto.
original source: Hochi News dd. 20th February 2026 / Hochi News dd. 20th February 2026
Ami Nakai, a 17-year-old making her Olympic debut, earned the bronze medal in the women’s figure skating event at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Here’s a translation of their comments.
After completing her performance, Nakai shared her disbelief and excitement: “I was shocked to see I was in third place – this feels like a dream. Just being able to perform on such a grand stage as the Olympics is incredible, but to win a medal too? It feels like my dream has come true.”
“Honestly, I never thought I’d make it to the Olympics. Standing here now with a medal around my neck makes me so happy. It makes me feel that all the injuries and tough times I’ve been through were worth it and not in vain.”
“When I saw the number ‘3’ next to my name, I thought, ‘Well, I guess I didn’t make it after all.’ Then, I realized it meant I had won the bronze medal. I was completely shocked and even wondered if it was real,” Nakai said, sharing her honest reaction. Reflecting on her journey as a 17-year-old who made her senior debut this season, she admitted, “At first, I never even thought I’d make it to the Olympics, let alone compete for a medal. It’s all been such a surprise.”
Standing proudly on the podium, Nakai reflected on her achievement: “This was truly the most brilliant view I’ve ever seen in any competition.”
“I had never really seen my coach (Kensuke Nakaniwa) cry before, so seeing him so happy when I won the medal made me truly happy as well. He said, ‘Thank you so much,’ and even before the short program, he told me, ‘Thank you for bringing us to this stage.’ Now, being able to win a medal together with him makes me so glad.”
Nakai’s love for figure skating began at age five when she was captivated by footage of Mao Asada’s iconic performance at the Vancouver Olympics.
“I’ve always admired Mao-san,” Nakai said. “The triple axel is such a difficult jump for female skaters. Landing it for the first time made me so happy, and I thought to myself, ‘I want to make this my signature jump.’”
“My main goal for this competition was to land a triple axel at the Olympic stage, and being able to do that makes me incredibly happy. Winning a medal, which had been a lifelong dream, fills me with so much joy.”
“If I thought about the medal, I wouldn’t have been able to focus on my performance. So I put the idea of the medal aside and concentrated on nailing my triple axel and just enjoying myself to the fullest.”
When asked about her future goals, Nakai expressed her ambitions with a beaming smile: “I think I’m at the age where I can aim for two more Olympics, just like Kao-chan. I want to follow in her footsteps and compete in two more Games.” Sakamoto, seated next to her during the press conference, smiled warmly at the 17-year-old skater. “Japan is in good hands,” said Sakamoto.
Nakai also thanked Mao Shimada for being a motivation for her, saying “Competing with Mao-chan (Shimada) really changed me; it helped me develop a stronger competitive spirit and the determination to challenge myself. I’m very grateful for that. My goal now is to work hard so that we can skate together at the next Olympics in four years.”
Related topics: Ami Nakai, Olympic Games
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