Ami Nakai leads at Saatva Skate America, eyes Grand Prix sweep
NBC Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- Ami Nakai of Japan leads the Saatva Skate America after the short program with a top score of 82.20 points, including a triple Axel, positioning her to potentially sweep her two Grand Prix regular season events.
- Nakai holds a 7.96-point lead over Russia’s Alexandra Ignatova, who recently became the first mother to podium in a Grand Prix singles event.
- Nakai, the top returning women’s singles skater from the Milan Cortina Olympics, aims to qualify for the Grand Prix Final with a strong finish at Skate America, following her Grand Prix France win last month.
- American Alexa Gasparotto made history by becoming the first Black woman to land a triple Axel in the Grand Prix Series during her senior debut, finishing 12th overall.
- In ice dance, U.S. duo Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik topped the rhythm dance with a near-season-best score, aiming to secure the 17th Skate America ice dance title for the U.S. in 18 years.
