Samodelkina sets personal best in Olympic debut at 2026 Winter Games

Tengrinews.kz – Nineteen-year-old Kazakh figure skater Sofya Samodelkina delivered a personal best performance in her Olympic debut at the 2026 Winter Games in Italy, citing Vesti.kz.

In the short program, Samodelkina scored 68.47 points, setting a new personal record and briefly moving into third place. According to the official website of the 2026 Games, the score also marked her best result of the season. After all skaters completed their short programs, she placed 12th overall.

Seventeen-year-old Ami Nakai of Japan took the lead with 78.71 points. Fellow Japanese skater Kaori Sakamoto finished second with 77.23, while American Alysa Liu placed third with 76.59.

The free skate is scheduled for February 19, with the top 24 skaters competing for medals at the 2026 Games.

Samodelkina said she was very satisfied with her performance. According to the skater, the result reflects her work with new coach Rafael Arutyunyan, who also trains American star Ilia Malinin.

“I’m very happy! I think it was my best skate ever — since the very beginning of my career and throughout the journey to this Olympic program. Of course, I’m extremely satisfied; I performed all the elements perfectly. My coach praised me, and that’s the most important thing,” Samodelkina said.

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