Table of Contents
Women’s free skate to decide final Olympic medals on Feb. 19
What: The final medals in Olympic figure skating will be decided when the women’s free skate concludes on Feb. 19. The segment follows a dramatic short program and features 24 skaters who advanced to the free skate.
When and where: The free skate takes place at the Milano Ice Skating Arena on Feb. 19.
How the free skate works: Routines last up to four minutes. Skaters combine jumps, spins and choreography in their long programs. Scores from technical elements and program components determine final standings.
How to watch live: Broadcasters will carry the live broadcast from the Milano Ice Skating Arena. Streaming options include Peacock and short-term trials offered by various live TV services. Viewers should check regional rights and platform availability ahead of the event.
Why it matters: The free skate is the decisive phase for Olympic medals in the women’s event. Performances under pressure often reshuffle podium projections established after the short program.
Performances under pressure often reshuffle podium projections established after the short program. The free skate will test technical ambition and consistency across the field. Leading the American challenge is Alysa Liu, who moved into contention after a strong short program. Japan’s rising talent Ami Nakai and veteran Kaori Sakamoto occupy top positions in the standings. Teammates Isabeau Levito and Amber Glenn seek upward movement following mixed short-program results.
Event basics: what the free skate requires and when it airs
The free skate demands a longer program with a higher quota of jumping passes and program components than the short. Skaters must balance technical difficulty with performance quality. Judges award points for jump executions, spin levels, step-sequence difficulty and Errors such as falls, under-rotations and edge calls carry immediate deductions that can alter medal chances.
What to watch in the free skate
Expect decisive moments on opening jump passes. Technical elements that typically separate medalists include combinations, high-scoring triple axels and quadruple jumps. Skaters with smaller technical bases can offset deficits with superior transitions, choreography and performance scores.
How key contenders shape the contest
Alysa Liu brings high-risk technical options that can yield large point gains if landed cleanly. Her programs often hinge on the consistency of difficult jump elements.
Ami Nakai combines recent competitive momentum with clean deliveries and component scores. Her performance quality makes her a strong challenger in tight standings.
Kaori Sakamoto offers experienced game management and expressive presentation. Her ability to limit mistakes under pressure keeps her in podium conversations.
Isabeau Levito and Amber Glenn can influence final placements through clean skates and strong component marks. Both must minimize technical errors to climb the leaderboard.
Viewing instructions
Broadcast and streaming details were outlined earlier in this article. Viewers should note the scheduled start window and plan for the full session, as warm-ups and group rotations affect actual on-ice times. Allow extra time for post-event protocols, including score confirmations and potential review of technical calls.
Competitive context and what to expect
Podium projections remain fluid. A single clean free skate can vault a skater several places. Conversely, an error-prone program can drop a pre-event favorite from medal contention. Judges will weigh technical execution against program components to form final totals.
The next segment lists the start order, individual program music and the athletes most likely to determine medal positions. The final results will reflect a blend of technical courage and performance control.
The free skate is a four-minute program that combines technical elements and presentation. Skaters may perform up to seven jumps, which must include at least one axel. They may also present up to three spins, a step sequence and a choreographic sequence. Judges score the technical elements and the program components to determine each skater’s final result. The free skate begins at 1 p.m. ET on Feb. 19 and will air in full on NBC.
How to watch: streaming options for cord-cutters
Continuing from coverage of the free skate and broadcast plans, here are practical streaming options for cord-cutters. These services carry NBC programming and can provide live access to the free skate without a traditional cable subscription.
Free trial strategy
Peacock offers live streams of Olympic coverage through a direct subscription. It provides both on-demand and live broadcasts, including event finals and daily sessions.
Live TV services such as DIRECTV include NBC in their channel lineups and commonly offer short free trials. For example, DIRECTV’s five-day trial grants temporary access to NBC, allowing viewers to stream the free skate without immediate payment. Subscriptions resume at the provider’s stated monthly rate after the trial ends.
Budget-conscious viewers may consider Sling TV, which includes NBC on select plans. Availability varies by package and market, so plan selection affects access to specific broadcasts.
Before relying on a trial, confirm local channel availability and potential blackout restrictions with each provider. Account requirements, device compatibility and regional carriage agreements determine whether a given service will stream the free skate in your area.
Account requirements, device compatibility and regional carriage agreements determine whether a given service will stream the free skate in your area. To watch without cost, sign up for a live TV service offering a trial that includes Feb. 19. Activate the trial, confirm access to NBC, and stream the event live. Cancel before the trial ends if you do not wish to continue the subscription. As an alternative, subscribing to Peacock provides comprehensive Olympic coverage on a single platform for viewers who prefer one dedicated service.
Who to watch: contenders and storylines
The competition narrative centers on a handful of leading skaters. Japan’s Ami Nakai and Kaori Sakamoto lead the standings after strong performances, with Nakai noted for an outstanding short program and Sakamoto competing in what is likely her final Olympic appearance. Japan’s Mone Chiba rounds out the trio, creating a realistic prospect of a podium sweep for their team.
Following Japan’s strong showing, the United States enters the final 24 with three skaters known as the “Blade Angels.” Alysa Liu is the highest-placed American after the short program, trailing the leader by two points and positioned to challenge for a medal. Isabeau Levito sits in the middle of the field after a controlled short program. Amber Glenn dropped several places after a missed triple loop cost her points. A clean free skate from any American contender could alter the current Japanese advantage.
The wildcard and technical threats
Another athlete to monitor is Adeliia Petrosian, who is competing as an independent athlete. Petrosian has the technical capacity to attempt a quad jump, a high-difficulty element that can substantially change standings when landed cleanly. Her limited international exposure increases uncertainty and makes her a potential disruptor of the expected podium order.
Medals in the women’s event will be awarded at the conclusion of the free skate on Feb. 19. The free skate determines podium placement and final medal distribution.
The figure skating season at the Games ends with an exhibition gala on Feb. 21 at 2 p.m. ET. The gala will air on Peacock.
Confirmed performers for the gala include top medalists from the team and individual events, notably Ilia Malinin and ice dance champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates. Women’s participants will be finalized after the free skate results are settled.
This schedule follows a tightly contested competition phase and precedes the exhibition showcase, which typically features medalists and crowd favorites performing non-competitive programs.
What the free skate will decide
The women’s free skate on Feb. 19 will determine the final Olympic podium in Milan. Judges will award medals at the conclusion of that program. The event follows the competitive phase and precedes the exhibition showcase.
A U.S. woman has not won an Olympic singles medal since 2006. A podium finish for Liu would end that long drought. That national storyline adds stakes beyond technical and artistic battles on the ice.
For viewers focused on elements, the free skate will showcase jump content, program components and technical calls that ultimately decide placements. For those drawn to narrative, national streaks and comeback arcs will shape the night’s significance.
The free skate promises a climactic close to Olympic figure skating in Milan and sets the field for the exhibition that follows.