Ami Nakai, Alysa Liu embrace after medaling at Winter Olympics

One of the most endearing things about the women's singles free skate finals at the 2026 Winter Olympics was the simple reminder thatsports are fun.

WhileAlysa Liu embodied thatin her seemingly effortlessly graceful routine, the silver and bronze medalists in Japan are representing two generations of skate in the Land of the Rising Sun. Silver medalist Kaori Sakamoto and bronze medalist Ami Nakai stood alongside Liu on the podium as a triumvirate.

REQUIRED READING:Alysa Liu is happiest figure skater on Earth — and Olympic champion

It was a sweet moment away from the podium, however, that showed what the moment meant to gold and bronze. A clip was shared of Nakai jumping in excitement and Liu embracing her and hoisting her off the ground before just letting the moment take over and jumping for joy together.

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See the best moments from the Women's figure skating free skate as Alysa Liu wins a Gold medal to end a 20-year drought for American women.
USA's Alysa Liu competes in the Women's figure skating free skate on Feb. 19, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Amber Glenn of United States competes in the Women's figure skating free skate on Feb. 19, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Livia Kaiser of Team Switzerland competes in the Women's figure skating free skate on Feb. 19, 2026.

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See Alysa Liu's incredible Gold medal free skate performance

See the best moments from theWomen's figure skating free skateasAlysa Liuwins a Gold medal to end a 20-year drought for American women.USA's Alysa Liu competes in the Women's figure skating free skate on Feb. 19, 2026.

The infectiousness of the smiles cuts both ways.

"When I see other people smiling, I see them in the audience, I have to smile too," Liu said after she won gold. "I have no poker face."

Although this is Sakamoto's final Winter Olympics, the future is in good hands with 17-year-old Nakai, who turned heads from start to finish in Milan. "I started off feeling pretty nervous, but I was able to approach it with my usual self, my usual mindset. That part really felt good," Nakai said,per The Japan Times.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:17-year-old Ami Nakai hugs Alysa Liu after both skaters medal at Olympics

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February 20, 2026

Ami Nakai, Alysa Liu embrace after medaling at Winter Olympics

One of the most endearing things about the women's singles free skate finals at the 2026 Winter Olympics was the sim...

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Winter Olympics TV schedule today: How to watch every event on Friday

The 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics are off and running with 16 sports taking over 25 different venues. Here's a look at the TV schedule for Friday, Feb. 20 and how to watch all the action. The games are exclusively airing across NBC's suite of networks with many events airing live on its streaming service, Peacock, which you cansign up for here.

USA TODAY Sports has a team of more than a dozen journalists on the ground in Italy to bring you behind the scenes with Team USA and keep you up to date with every medal win, big moment and triumphant finish. Get ourChasing Gold newsletterin your inbox every morning andjoin our WhatsApp channelto get the latest updates right in your texts.

All times Eastern and accurate as of Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, at 2:02 p.m.

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Feb. 20 Winter Olympics TV Schedule

• 2:00 AM - FIGURE SKATING (REPLAY) (Medal Event) Women's Free Skate USA NETWORK

• 4:00 AM - FREESTYLE SKIING (LIVE) Women's Cross Qualification USA NETWORK, PEACOCK

• 4:30 AM - FREESTYLE SKIING (LIVE) Men's Aerials Qualification USA NETWORK, PEACOCK

• 6:00 AM - FREESTYLE SKIING (LIVE) (Medal Event) Women's Cross Final USA NETWORK, PEACOCK

• 7:30 AM - FREESTYLE SKIING (LIVE) (Medal Event) Men's Aerials Finals USA NETWORK

• 8:45 AM - CURLING (LIVE) USA vs. Switzerland Women's Semifinal USA NETWORK, PEACOCK

• 11:00 AM - SPEED SKATING (LIVE) (Medal Event) Women's 1500m USA NETWORK

• 11:50 AM - ICE HOCKEY (LIVE) Canada vs. Finland Men's Semifinal USA NETWORK, PEACOCK

• 12:00 PM - BOBSLED (LIVE) Women's Doubles: Heat 1 NBC

• 12:15 PM - FREESTYLE SKIING (REPLAY) (Medal Event) Men's Aerials Finals NBC

• 1:00 PM - FREESTYLE SKIING Men's Halfpipe Qualifying USA NETWORK

• 1:00 PM - SPEED SKATING (REPLAY) (Medal Event) Women's 1500m NBC

• 1:30 PM - BIATHLON (REPLAY) (Medal Event) Men's 15km Mass Start USA NETWORK

• 1:30 PM - FREESTYLE SKIING (LIVE) (Medal Event) Men's Halfpipe Final NBC, PEACOCK

• 2:15 PM - SHORT TRACK (LIVE) (Medal Event) Men's 5000m Relay Final, Women's 1500m Prelims, Final USA NETWORK, PEACOCK

• 3:10 PM - ICE HOCKEY (LIVE) USA vs. Slovakia Men's Semifinal NBC, PEACOCK

• 4:15 PM - BOBSLED (REPLAY) Women's Doubles: Heat 1 and 2 USA NETWORK

• 5:00 PM - BIATHLON (REPLAY) (Medal Event) Men's 15km Mass Start USA NETWORK

• 6:00 PM - CURLING (REPLAY) (Medal Event) Men's Bronze Final USA NETWORK

• 8:00 PM - PRIMETIME IN MILAN (REPLAY) Speed Skating, Short Track, Freestyle Skiing, Bobsled NBC, PEACOCK

• 8:00 PM - BIATHLON (REPLAY) (Medal Event) Men's 15km Mass Start USA NETWORK

• 8:45 PM - CURLING (REPLAY) USA vs. Switzerland Women's Semifinal USA NETWORK

• 11:35 PM - OLYMPIC LATE NIGHT (REPLAY) NBC, PEACOCK

• 11:45 PM - ICE HOCKEY (REPLAY) USA vs. Slovakia Men's Semifinal USA NETWORK

Feb. 20 Winter Olympics Streaming Schedule

Sign up for Peacock here

• 4:00 AM - FREESTYLE SKIING (LIVE) Women's Ski Cross Qualifying PEACOCK

• 6:00 AM - FREESTYLE SKIING (LIVE) (Medal Event) Women's Ski Cross Finals PEACOCK

• 8:00 AM - GOLD ZONE: DAY 14 (LIVE) Digital Exclusive PEACOCK

• 8:05 AM - CURLING (LIVE) Sweden vs. Canada Women's Semifinal PEACOCK

• 10:30 AM - SPEED SKATING (LIVE) (Medal Event) Women's 1500m PEACOCK

• 12:00 PM - BOBSLED (LIVE) Women's Doubles: Heat 1 and 2 PEACOCK

• 1:05 PM - CURLING (LIVE) (Medal Event) Norway vs. Switzerland Bronze Final PEACOCK

Meet Team USA 2026:Get to know the athletes behind the games

More 2026 Winter Olympics

See the full Milano Cortina Games schedule

See the 2026 Medal Count Here

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Winter Olympics TV schedule today: How to watch every event on Friday

byAdministrator

in

February 20, 2026

Winter Olympics TV schedule today: How to watch every event on Friday

The 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics are off and running with 16 sports taking over 25 different venues. Here...

Read More

Winter Olympics schedule today: Every event happening on Feb. 20

Here is the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics competition schedule for Friday, Feb. 20. The games are exclusively airing across NBC's suite of networks with many competitions airing live on its streaming service, Peacock, which you cansign up for here.

USA TODAY Sports has a team of more than a dozen journalists on the ground in Italy to bring you behind the scenes with Team USA and keep you up to date with every medal win, big moment and triumphant finish. Get ourChasing Gold newsletterin your inbox every morning andjoin our WhatsApp channelto get the latest updates right in your texts.

Feb. 20 Winter Olympics events

All times Eastern and accurate as of Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, at 2:02 p.m.

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• 4 a.m. - Bobsleigh: 4-man Official Training Heat 5 & 6, Cortina Sliding Centre (Cortina d'Ampezzo)

• 4 a.m. - Freestyle Skiing: Women's Ski Cross Seeding, Livigno Snow Park (Livigno)

• 6 a.m. - Freestyle Skiing: Women's Ski Cross 1/8 Finals, Livigno Snow Park (Livigno)

• 6:35 a.m. - Freestyle Skiing: Women's Ski Cross Quarterfinals, Livigno Snow Park (Livigno)

• 6:54 a.m. - Freestyle Skiing: Women's Ski Cross Semifinals, Livigno Snow Park (Livigno)

• 7:10 a.m. - Freestyle Skiing: Women's Ski Cross Finals (Medal Event), Livigno Snow Park (Livigno)

• 8:05 a.m. - Curling: Women's Semifinal, Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium (Cortina d'Ampezzo)

• 8:05 a.m. - Curling: Women's Semifinal, Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium (Cortina d'Ampezzo)

• 8:15 a.m. - Biathlon: Men's 15km Mass Start (Medal Event), Anterselva Biathlon Arena (Antholz)

• 10:30 a.m. - Speed Skating: Women's 1500m (Medal Event), Milano Speed Skating Stadium (Rho, Milan)

• 10:40 a.m. - Ice Hockey: Men's Playoff Semifinal, Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena

• 12 p.m. - Bobsleigh: 2-woman Heat 1, Cortina Sliding Centre (Cortina d'Ampezzo)

• 1:05 p.m. - Curling: Men's Bronze Medal Game, Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium (Cortina d'Ampezzo)

• 1:30 p.m. - Freestyle Skiing: Men's Freeski Halfpipe Final (Medal Event), Livigno Snow Park (Livigno)

• 1:50 p.m. - Bobsleigh: 2-woman Heat 2, Cortina Sliding Centre (Cortina d'Ampezzo)

• 2:15 p.m. - Short Track: Women's 1500m Quarterfinals, Milano Ice Skating Arena (Milan)

• 3:02 p.m. - Short Track: Women's 1500m Semifinals, Milano Ice Skating Arena (Milan)

• 3:10 p.m. - Ice Hockey: Men's Playoff Semifinal, Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena

• 3:18 p.m. - Short Track: Men's 5000m Relay Final B, Milano Ice Skating Arena (Milan)

• 3:30 p.m. - Short Track: Men's 5000m Relay Final A (Medal Event), Milano Ice Skating Arena (Milan)

• 4 p.m. - Short Track: Women's 1500m Final B, Milano Ice Skating Arena (Milan)

• 4:07 p.m. - Short Track: Women's 1500m Final A (Medal Event), Milano Ice Skating Arena (Milan)

Meet Team USA 2026:Get to know the athletes behind the games

More 2026 Winter Olympics

See the full Milano Cortina Games schedule

See the 2026 Medal Count Here

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Winter Olympics schedule today: Every event happening on Feb. 20

byAdministrator

in

February 20, 2026

Winter Olympics schedule today: Every event happening on Feb. 20

Here is the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics competition schedule for Friday, Feb. 20. The games are exclusively ...

Read More