2026 Olympic Figure Skating Pairs Preview & Prediction
Updated July 30, 2026
The pairs figure skating event at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo is the one figure skating event where a medal might not be in the cards for the United States. Historically, pairs skating has been among the most unpredictable Olympic disciplines, where one small error can flip the entire leaderboard upside down. But several duos have arrived in strong form following recent championship performances, and we could see a few countries other than the US on the podium. Here, I break down this competition and make my Olympic figure skating pairs prediction.
The headlines going into this competition revolve around the Japanese duo Miura and Kihara, who enter the Olympics in arguably the best physical and competitive condition of their partnership. The pair has already captured multiple world championship titles and recently expressed confidence after training sessions that revealed peak performance levels. Their combination of high-difficulty lifts, precise throw jumps, and reliable side-by-side jumps has produced some of the highest base technical values among elite pairs. Their consistency has made them a reliable favorite in recent international events, often delivering clean programs that avoid costly deductions.
Another major storyline in the pairs competition centers on the return of Chinese icons Sui and Han. The Olympic champions stepped away from full competition after their previous Olympic success and have returned following an extended absence from top-level events. Their historical scoring ceiling remains extremely high, particularly in components tied to skating skills and performance quality. The question for them is whether or not rust will be a factor on the big stage.
Several European teams will also be in contention for the podium. German pair Hase and Volodin have developed into one of the most technically ambitious duos on the circuit. Their free skate programs frequently include high-value throw jumps and strong lifts, but their results across the last two seasons reveal occasional inconsistencies during high-pressure events.
Meanwhile, Georgia’s Metelkina and Berulava have emerged as serious medal threats after impressive early-season showings. The Italian pair Conti and Macii will try to take advantage of home-ice to skate to gold. Their performances during recent European championships demonstrated strong crowd connection and rapidly improving technical elements. Hosting the Olympics often brings increased national attention, which can either inspire exceptional performances or introduce additional pressure.
Canada’s Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps are the source of one of the most emotional storylines of the Olympics. Stellato-Dudek’s return to elite skating in her 40s after a lengthy break already produced a world championship victory earlier in the cycle. However, recent injury concerns have clouded her Olympic preparation. The American pair of Kam and O'Shea will also try to crack the podium representing North America, but that won't be easy after what we saw during the team competition's pairs skate.
Miura and Kihara remain the most complete team entering the Olympics. Their programs balance technical difficulty with incredible consistency. Across recent major events, they have produced high success rates on throw jumps and twist lifts, often finishing near the top in both technical and component scores.
Hase and Volodin bring one of the highest technical scoring ceilings. Their free skate layouts often include demanding jump combinations that, when successful, generate large base value totals. Their results during the Grand Prix and European competitions indicate a strong medal probability.
Metelkina and Berulava have displayed rapid scoring growth for Georgia. Their athletic power allows them to attempt complex throws and lifts that few teams attempt. However, judges often penalize slight synchronization timing issues.
Sui and Han bring unmatched experience and historical Olympic success. Their skating skills and emotional performance quality often rank among the highest ever recorded in pairs skating. The primary variable remains for them is competition sharpness after time away from the biggest international events.
Pick: Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara ATS PRO
Confidence: 4/5
Miura and Kihara should have the most balance between technical execution, consistency, and current physical readiness entering the Olympic competition. Their recent training reports and competition results suggest peak form at the most important moment of the Olympic cycle. While several rivals demonstrate higher theoretical scoring ceilings, none combine technical difficulty with execution stability at the same level. I am going to take the Japanese pair to come out on top here and to continue to impress on the world stage.
Jay Sanin is the GM and Head of Sports at ATS.io. He has been writing about sports gambling since 2013, handicapping tens of thousands of sporting events. He plays sides and totals aggressively across most sports and is more selective in player prop markets. He does his own modeling across most sports, and his family is jealous of how much time he spends on his precious spreadsheets.
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