MILAN, Italy, Feb 16, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Germany's Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin grabbed the lead after the short programme in the Olympic figure skating pairs on Sunday after a masterful tango. Miura and Kihara, two-time world champions and winners of the Grand Prix Final in December, were penalised for a hesitant lift midway through their programme to "Paint it Black". Defending Olympic champions Sui Wenjing and Han Cong are in sixth position after scoring 72.66. At 42, Stellato-Dudek is the oldest woman to compete in an Olympic figure skating event since Britain's Ethel Muckelt in 1928. The 2024 world champions had been uncertain to compete after she suffered concussion days before arriving in Milan.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha February 16, 2026 03:14 UTC