The 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics Pairs figure skating events take place on the 15th and 16th of February. The short program will be held on the 15th and free skate on the 16th.
Nineteen teams from fourteen countries are scheduled to take part in the event. Here we will introduce all of the competitors.
Armenia
Karina Akopova & Nikita Rakhmanin
| ISU Personal Best Scores (Short/Free/Total) | Music (Short/Free) |
|---|---|
| 65.20 | Music by Ara Gervorkian |
| 123.71 | Slumdog Millionaire (soundtrack) by Alla Rakha Rahman |
| 188.85 |
Karina Akopova (22) and Nikita Rakhmanin (26) represent Armenia. This is their first international season representing Armenia, changing representation from Russia due to Akopova’s Armenian heritage. They earned an Olympic quota for Armenia at the Skate to Milano competition, placing 2nd. They were unable to compete at the European Championships last month due to visa issues. Akopova and Rakhmanin were flag bearers for Armenia in the opening ceremony. The two are a couple off the ice.
Australia
Anastasia Golubeva & Hektor Giotopoulos Moore
| ISU Personal Best Scores (Short/Free/Total) | Music (Short/Free) |
|---|---|
| 65.73 | Exogensis Symphony Part 3 by Muse, I Won't Stand Down by Muse |
| 127.52 | Penny Dreadful (soundtrack) by Abel Korzeniowski, Final Destination by Karl Hugo |
| 189.47 |
Anastasia Golubeva (20) and Hektor Giotopoulos Moore (23) represent Australia. Giotopoulos Moore briefly skated with Armenian Karina Akopova. Golubeva and Giotopoulos Moore formed a partnership in 2019 but didn’t debut internationally until 2021 due to COVID. They are two-time Junior World medalists, National Champions, and Challenger Series gold medalists. The team were absent from competition earlier this season, withdrawing from their Grand Prix assignments due to Golubeva being unable to leave Australia until she fulfilled her residency requirements to receive citizenship. During this time, she also suffered a concussion, further affecting their level of performance.
Canada
Lia Pereira & Trennt Michaud
| ISU Personal Best Scores (Short/Free/Total) | Music (Short/Free) |
|---|---|
| 70.66 | Say You Love Me by Jessie Ware, Benjamin Ash, Benny Blanco, Ed Sheeran |
| 134.42 | Gladiator (soundtrack) by Hans Zimmer |
| 198.40 |
Lia Pereira (21) and Trennt Michaud (29) represent Canada. The pair formed in 2022 after Michaud’s previous partnership dissolved. He narrowly missed out on participating in the 2022 Olympics with his former partner. Pereira switched from singles to partner up with Michaud, although she had briefly tried pair skating when she was younger. Pereira and Michaud are Grand Prix de France gold medalists and Four Continents bronze medalists. Last month they became National Champions for the first time. Michaud is an avid disc golfer, and Pereira studies commerce at university.
Deanna Stellato-Dudek & Maxime Deschamps
| ISU Personal Best Scores (Short/Free/Total) | Music (Short/Free) |
|---|---|
| 77.48 | Carmina Burana by Carl Orff |
| 144.08 | Poeta en el Mar by Vicente Amigo, Amor Dulce Muerte by Vicente Amigo |
| 221.56 |
Deanna Stellato-Dudek (42) and Maxime Deschamps (34) represent Canada. The two teamed up in 2019, Stellato-Dudek switching to Canada from the U.S. when her previous partnership ended. Stellato-Dudek was the 1999 Junior Grand Prix Final Champion and 2000 Junior World silver medalist as a singles skater. She then retired from the sport due to injury. After a 16-year break, she returned to the sport as a pairs skater. They are the 2024 World Champions and 2024 Four Continents Champions. Stellato-Dudek received her citizenship in December 2024. They had incorporated an assisted backflip into their short program this season, but have taken it out after Stellato-Dudek suffered an injury in training shortly before the Olympics.
China
Wenjing Sui & Cong Han
| ISU Personal Best Scores (Short/Free/Total) | Music (Short/Free) |
|---|---|
| 84.41 | Carmen: Habanera (arranged for Acoustic Guitar by Marcin Patrzalek) |
| 155.60 | A Tapestry of a Legendary Land by Lü Liang |
| 239.88 |
Wenjing Sui (30) and Cong Han (33) represent China. They are the 2022 Olympic Champions, 2018 Olympic silver medalists, two-time World Champions, and 6-time Four Continents champions. The pair teamed up 19 years ago and maintained their partnership through a myriad of injuries. After the 2022 Olympics, Han retired from competitive skating, citing injury, whereas Sui said she would be interested in returning to competition. She briefly formed another partnership, but they never made it to competition. Sui and Han reformed their partnership last year with the intention of competing at the 2026 Olympics, but have struggled to regain their prior form due to injuries.
France
Camille Kovalev & Pavel Kovalev
| ISU Personal Best Scores (Short/Free/Total) | Music (Short/Free) |
|---|---|
| 64.28 | Une vie d'amour by Mireille Mathieu, Charles Aznavour |
| 115.87 | Come Together by Gary Clark jr, Junkie XL, John Lennon, After Dark by Tito et Tarantula, Steve Huffstester, Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes, Jack White |
| 179.85 |
Camille Kovalev (31) and Pavel Kovalev (34) represent France. The two teamed up in 2014 and got married in 2017. Camille’s former partner, Christopher Boyadji, is attending these Olympics as a coach for two members of Team Great Britain. They were unable to earn a quota for France at the 2025 Worlds Championships and attended the Skate to Milano competition, where they became first alternates. As the Uzbekistan pairs team split due to injury and the country had no other pair, the Kovalevs were given their spot. Earlier this season, Camille dislocated her shoulder during a fall in the short program at NHK Trophy, they returned to competition at French Nationals, earning their 5th title.
Great Britain
Anastasia Vaipan-Law & Luke Digby
| ISU Personal Best Scores (Short/Free/Total) | Music (Short/Free) |
|---|---|
| 66.54 | Lighthouse by Patrick Watson |
| 119.09 | Arrival of the Birds by The Cinematic Orchestra, Rob Colling, Carry You by Fleurie, Ruelle |
| 183.76 |
Anastasia Vaipan-Law (26) and Luke Digby (25) represent Great Britain. They teamed up in 2019, both pursuing pairs for the first time after reaching the end of the road in their singles careers. They are 5-time National Champions and achieved a career-high 5th place at Europeans in 2025. They are also Challenger series silver medalists. Vaipan-Law’s boyfriend and Digby’s brother play for rival Dundee football teams.
Georgia
Anastasiia Metelkina & Luka Berulava
| ISU Personal Best Scores (Short/Free/Total) | Music (Short/Free) |
|---|---|
| 78.83 | Bolero (Excerpt) by Miloš Karadaglić |
| 148.07 | Le discours d'Arthur by Jerome Rebotier, Keeping Me Alive (acoustic) by Jonathan Roy |
| 225.20 |
Anastasiia Metelkina (20) and Luka Berulava (23) represent Georgia. They teamed up in in 2023 after their previous partnerships ended. With his former partner, Karina Safina, Berulava was part of the first Georgian pairs team to win a Junior Grand Prix medal and win Junior Worlds, they also placed 9th at the 2022 Olympics. Since partnering, Metelkina and Berulava have won the Junior Grand Prix Final in 2024, and two Junior World titles. Berulava is the first pairs skater to win Junior Worlds with two different partners. Last month, they became the first Georgian pairs team to win the European Championships. Berulava is the godfather of fellow Olympian Nika Egadze.
Germany
Minerva Fabienne Hase & Nikita Volodin
| ISU Personal Best Scores (Short/Free/Total) | Music (Short/Free) |
|---|---|
| 77.61 | El Abrazo by Maxime Rodriguez, Frederic Ruiz |
| 149.57 | Memoryhouse by Max Richter |
| 221.38 |
Minerva Fabienne Hase (26) and Nikita Volodin (26) represent Germany. They teamed up in 2022, but had to wait a season for Volodin to be released from the Russian federation before competing. Hase attended the last Olympics with her former partner Nolan Seegert (who is now coaching the Polish team competing in the same event), placing 16th and missing the team event due to Seegert’s COVID diagnosis. Hase and Volodin found immediate success as a team, winning both of their Grand Prix events and the Grand Prix Final in their first competitive season, and the Final again the next year. They are the 2025 European Champions and have medaled at the World Championships twice, narrowly missing out on the title last season. Volodin received German citizenship in September last year, making them eligible for the Olympics.
Annika Hocke & Robert Kunkel
| ISU Personal Best Scores (Short/Free/Total) | Music (Short/Free) |
|---|---|
| 69.13 | Hold My Hand by Lady Gaga |
| 130.59 | I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That) by Meatloaf |
| 198.23 |
Annika Hocke (25) and Robert Kunkel (26) represent Germany. This will be Hocke’s second Olympics after she participated with her former partner, Ruben Blommaert, in 2018, placing 16th. Hocke and Kunkel teamed up in 2019, and as the two were still age-eligible, they started out on the Junior circuit. They were the first German pair to qualify for the Junior Grand Prix Final. They are the 2023 European bronze medalists and Skate America 2023 gold medalists. Last summer, their training was disrupted when Kunkel had an accident on the ice that resulted in his hand and finger being cut open, and a skin transplant was required.
Hungary
Maria Pavlova & Alexei Sviatchenko
| ISU Personal Best Scores (Short/Free/Total) | Music (Short/Free) |
|---|---|
| 73.32 | Earth Song by Michael Jackson |
| 136.59 | Without You by Ursine Vulpine fear. Annaca |
| 208.33 |
Maria Pavlova (21) and Alexei Sviatchenko (26) represent Hungary. Both are Russian-born, with Pavlova first switching to represent Hungary with her former partner Balázs Nagy, who were alternates for the 2022 Olympics before disbanding. Pavlova and Sviatchenko teamed up later in 2022. They have reached the Grand Prix Final twice and last month, became European bronze medalists. They are also three-time National Champions. Sviatchenko is married to former ice dancer Sofia Evdokimova, who is also their choreographer.
Italy
Sara Conti & Niccolò Macii
| ISU Personal Best Scores (Short/Free/Total) | Music (Short/Free) |
|---|---|
| 77.22 | The Wild Bull by John Califra, Concerto de Espana by Benise |
| 146.06 | Caruso by Hauser, Caruso by Lara Fabian, Occhi Verdi by Karl Hugo |
| 223.28 |
Sara Conti (25) and Niccolò Macii (30) represent Italy. They teamed up in 2019 and shot to success during the 2022/23 season. They are the 2023 European Champions, three-time Grand Prix Final medalists, and two-time World medalists. They won a Team bronze medal earlier in these Olympics. They are the first Italian pairs team to win the European Championships and medal at Worlds. Conti and Macii used to be a couple but broke up in 2023. Conti is in a relationship with Spanish-German ice dancer Tim Dieck.
Rebecca Ghilardi & Filippo Ambrosini
| ISU Personal Best Scores (Short/Free/Total) | Music (Short/Free) |
|---|---|
| 69.11 | Volare by il Volo, Domenico Modugno |
| 130.81 | Poeta en al Mar by Vicente Amigo, Flamenco del Mar by Lorenzo De Benedictis, V for Vivaldi by Duomo, Power-Haus |
| 195.68 |
Rebecca Ghilardi (26) and Filipino Ambrosini (32) represent Italy. They placed 14th at the 2022 Olympics. Ghilardi and Ambrosini are two-time European medalists, have reached the Grand Prix Final three times, and are ten-time consecutive National medalists (Champions in 2023). It was thought they would be in a tight race for the second Italian pairs spot with 2024 European Champions Lucrezia Beccari and Matteo Guarise, with the other team taken out of competition due to injuries; their placement was easily confirmed. Ambrosini is Italy’s only out LGBTQ+ athlete competing at these Olympics.
Japan
Riku Miura & Ryuichi Kihara
| ISU Personal Best Scores (Short/Free/Total) | Music (Short/Free) |
|---|---|
| 82.84 | Paint it Black by Jacob Braun, Keith Richards, Mick Jaggerm Paint it Black by Sebastian Böhm, Keith Richards, Mick Jagger |
| 155.55 | Gladiator (soundtrack) by Harry Gregson-Williams, Lisa Gerrard, Hans Zimmer, Andrea Bocelli |
| 226.05 |
Riku Miura (24) and Ryuichi Kihara (33) represent Japan. The two became partners in 2019 after both of their prior partnerships dissolved. Kihara has appeared at the 2014 and 2018 Olympics with his former partners, placing 18th and 21st, respectively. Miura and Kihara were 7th at the 2022 Olympics and are two-time silver medalists in the Team Event. The team are two-time World Champions, becoming the first Japanese pair to win the title, and in the 2022/23 season achieved a Grand Slam, winning all major competitions during the season. They are also two-time Four Continents Champions and two-time Grand Prix Final champions. They are the favourites for the Gold medal.
Yuna Nagaoka & Sumitada Moriguchi
| ISU Personal Best Scores (Short/Free/Total) | Music (Short/Free) |
|---|---|
| 71.95 | Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John, Bernie Taupin, by Epic Geek, by Alala |
| 130.59 | Tree of Life Suite by Roberto Cacciapaglia, Flamme by Roberto Cacciapaglia |
| 202.11 |
Yuna Nagaoka (20) and Sumitada Moriguchi (24) represent Japan. They teamed up in 2023 when Nagaoka attended a training camp, and her potential as a pairs skater was recognised. Moriguchi had recently split with his former partner and the team was formed. They failed to make the free skate at 2025 Worlds and, therefore, had to compete at the Skate to Milano competition to confirm a second Olympic quota for Japan. Last month, they became Four Continents bronze medalists. Nagaoka and Moriguchi are recognisable for having one of the most impressive pairs lifts in the field, with high speed and ice coverage.
Netherlands
Daria Danilova & Michel Tsiba
| ISU Personal Best Scores (Short/Free/Total) | Music (Short/Free) |
|---|---|
| 62.69 | Take Back the Power by Raury |
| 119.47 | Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin |
| 178.37 |
Daria Danilova (23) and Michel Tsiba (28) represent the Netherlands. They are the first Dutch pairs team to qualify for the Olympics. They teamed up in 2018 and are a couple off the ice as well. The Dutch Olympic Committee have internal requirements in order for athletes to compete at the Olympics, so despite earning a quota placing 15th at 2025 Worlds, their participation was in limbo for most of this season. They failed to reach the score the Committee required of them, but were supported by a petition backed by fans and other skaters. Ultimately, the Committee chose to allow them to compete. Danilova is Russian-born and received her citizenship in 2024. She is long-time friends with fellow pairs skater Karina Akopova.
Poland
Ioulia Chtchetinina & Michał Woźniak
| ISU Personal Best Scores (Short/Free/Total) | Music (Short/Free) |
|---|---|
| 62.76 | Moderation by Florence + The Machine |
| 122.74 | I Love You by Woodkid |
| 185.50 |
Ioulia Chtchetinina (30) and Michał Woźniak (26) represent Poland. Chtchetinina qualified for the 2022 Olympics with her former partner Márk Magyar for Hungary. Shortly after they arrived at the competition, Magyar tested positive for COVID, and they had to withdraw. Woźniak contacted Chtchetinina following the end of her partnership, and the team was formed in 2023. They are Challenger series gold medalists and three-time National Champions. Chtchetinina received Polish citizenship in September. Woźniak’s wife is a former singles skater and now competes in solo ice dance.
USA
Emily Chan & Spencer Akira Howe
| ISU Personal Best Scores (Short/Free/Total) | Music (Short/Free) |
|---|---|
| 71.17 | Nyah by CH2 |
| 134.15 | Ghost The Musical, Unchained Melody by Marc Martel |
| 201.11 |
Emily Chan (28) and Spencer Akira Howe (29) represent the USA. They teamed up in 2019. Their career as a team has been up and down due to injury concerns, such as a severe concussion for Chan and a recurring shoulder injury for Howe. They are two-time Four Continents silver medalists. Howe enlisted in the army in 2024 and became a member of the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program. Chan is in a relationship with Estonian skater Aleksandr Selevko, who competed in the men’s event. Despite a difficult season, Chan and Howe were able to rise from 8th after the short program at U.S. Nationals to finish 4th. As two of the teams that finished above them failed to have full U.S. citizenship, they were chosen for the second pairs spot.
Ellie Kam & Danny O'Shea
| ISU Personal Best Scores (Short/Free/Total) | Music (Short/Free) |
|---|---|
| 73.16 | Hallelujah by K.D. Lang |
| 135.36 | Sweet Dreams by Cinematic Pop, Eleanor Rigby by Cinematic Pop, Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Cinematic Pop |
| 201.73 |
Ellie Kam (21) and Danny O’Shea (35) represent the USA. The team was formed in 2022, when O’Shea was helping Kam with her pairs elements after her last partnership ended. With his former partner, Tarah Kayne, O’Shea is the 2018 Four Continents Champion. Kam and O’Shea are Challenger series gold medalists, Four Continents bronze medalists, 2024 National Champions, and three-time Worlds participants. Last week, they achieved their best free skate score in the team event, helping the team achieve Gold. O’Shea has a business degree in mechanical engineering.
