Beginnings: From Niigata to the Ice
Born on April 27, 2008, in Niigata – a coastal prefecture on the Sea of Japan – Ami Nakai’s life with the blade began early. She started skating in 2013 after initially training in rhythmic gymnastics, inspired by watching Mao Asada, a legendary Japanese figure skater, on television. As a young girl, Nakai even landed a private lesson with Asada during a local ice show, an encounter that would shape her aspirations. From the outset, she demonstrated a rare combination of artistic sensitivity and competitive zeal.
Nakai’s early competitive years were grounded in Japan’s robust novice and junior circuits. She claimed victories and podiums at domestic events such as the Japan Novice Championships and quickly drew attention for her willingness to attempt advanced elements – including the triple axel – long before most of her peers. This daring approach hinted at her technical ambition, even as she honed her expressive range and composure on the ice.
Junior Success and the Road to Senior Ranks
As she matured, so too did her presence in junior international competition. Nakai won medals on the ISU Junior Grand Prix circuit, including gold at events like JGP China and a bronze at the Junior Grand Prix Final. She also earned a bronze medal at the 2023 World Junior Championships, signaling her ability to compete with the sport’s best young talents. But rather than precipitously leap into senior contention, she built a foundation of consistency, strategic skill development, and competitive resilience.
She trained under a team of experienced coaches — including Kensuke Nakaniwa, Makoto Nakata, Momoe Nagumo, Aya Tanoue, and Niina Takeno — at the MF Figure Skating Academy. Her journey also included meaningful growth spurts and technical refinement, such as learning and landing quadruple toe loops during a training camp in Toronto, Canada, ahead of her senior debut. This period of technical expansion laid groundwork that would soon pay dividends on skating’s biggest stages.
A Breakout Senior Season: 2025–26
The 2025–26 season represented a watershed moment in Nakai’s career. It was her senior international debut, and she entered with relatively modest expectations compared to established stars. Yet within months, she proved herself capable of exceeding every projection.
Her season opened with a silver medal at the 2025 CS Lombardia Trophy, demonstrating early that she could be competitive at the senior level. But it was her performances on the ISU Grand Prix circuit that truly heralded her arrival. At the 2025 Grand Prix de France — her first senior Grand Prix — Nakai stunned the skating world by winning gold. She scored personal bests in both the short and free programs, defeating seasoned competitors including three-time World Champion Kaori Sakamoto and solidifying her standing as a rising star. Her combined score of 227.08 points was a testament to her technical prowess and artistic growth.
She followed this with a bronze medal at the 2025 Skate Canada International, reinforcing that her French triumph was no fluke. These performances qualified her for the prestigious Grand Prix Final, where she continued to impress by earning the silver medal in her debut at the event. Even in moments of imperfection — such as stepping out on a triple axel in the short program — her resilience and capability shone through.
Back home at the 2025–26 Japan Championships, Nakai finished fourth — a respectable result that contributed to her selection for Japan’s figure skating team at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina. Shortly thereafter, she claimed a silver medal at the 2026 Four Continents Championships in Beijing, her first medal at a major senior ISU championship event. Though she fell on the triple axel in that competition, her momentum and emotional drive remained high.
Olympic Debut and a Moment of Global Recognition
Few sporting moments can elevate a young athlete from promising newcomer to continuing global interest quite like the Olympics. In February 2026 at the Milan-Cortina Winter Games, Ami Nakai made her Olympic debut not just with poise, but with dramatic impact.
In the women’s short program, Nakai executed a powerful and confident routine that electrified both audience and judges. Her signature triple axel – a jump that has historically been a rarity even among elite women’s skaters – anchored her performance. With a personal-best score of 78.71, she finished first in the segment, edging out both Sakamoto and Alysa Liu of the United States. Nakai’s performance propelled her into the spotlight as the surprise leader early in the Olympic competition, instantly marking her as one of the most watched skaters of the Games.
Her achievement was remarkable not merely for the score, but for what it represented: a young athlete, competing in her first Olympics, producing a performance that combined technical difficulty, expressive artistry, and emotional clarity under pressure. Her expression of joy, humility, and groundedness after the skate resonated widely; she spoke of simply enjoying the moment and performing to the best of her ability rather than obsessing over medals. This attitude – unburdened by expectation yet powerful in performance – defined her Olympic presence.
Style, Technique, and Skating Identity
What distinguishes Ami Nakai as more than just another competitive skater? The answer lies in both her technical arsenal and her artistic voice.
From a technical perspective, her willingness and ability to include challenging elements like the triple axel – typically performed by only a small percentage of women – sets her apart. Landing this jump consistently in competition requires extraordinary coordination, power, and training discipline. Doing so at an Olympic stage amplifies that accomplishment further.
Yet her skating extends beyond mechanics. Nakai balances athleticism with expressive nuance, choosing music like La Strada by Nino Rota that invites narrative and emotional exploration. Her choreography intertwines classical lyricism and subtle theatricality, inviting audiences to feel and not just judge her skating. This artistic strength, married with technical ambition, positions her not just as a competitor but as a performer. Fans and commentators alike have remarked on her infectious joy and presence – qualities that turn sport into spectacle.
Cultural Impact and the Japanese Skating Legacy
Nakai’s rise occurs within the context of a storied tradition of Japanese women’s figure skating. Japan has long produced champions at the highest levels, from Mao Asada and Shizuka Arakawa to recent standouts like Kaori Sakamoto and Mone Chiba. Nakai now joins this lineage, representing a new generation poised to carry Japan’s legacy forward on the world stage.
Her performance at the 2026 Olympics, particularly in helping thrust Japan into positions of serious medal contention, speaks to the strength and depth of Japanese figure skating. Beyond her individual achievements, Nakai’s presence reinforces the narrative of a national program that excels not just in producing technically excellent skaters, but in nurturing artists who connect with audiences globally.
In Japan, where figure skating draws passionate fan engagement and cultural attention, Nakai’s accomplishments at a young age have inspired a fresh wave of enthusiasm. Her story – of early inspiration, dedication, technical risk-taking, and emotional growth – resonates with aspiring skaters and sports fans alike
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