Ami Nakai

Ami Nakai is a Japanese figure skater who won the bronze medal at the 2026 Olympics. At just 4'11", she stands among the shortest competitors in her field, yet her technical prowess sets her apart. She became the sixth woman to land a triple Axel at the Winter Olympic Games, a feat that underscores her elite jumping ability.

Born in Niigata, Japan, Nakai began her athletic journey in rhythmic gymnastics before switching to figure skating in 2013 at age five. Her competitive debut came at the basic novice level during the 2017-18 Japan Novice Championships, where she placed fourteenth. By 2022, she was already competing on the Junior Grand Prix circuit, finishing third at her debut in Latvia. She has since collected silver at the 2026 Four Continents, silver at the 2025-26 Grand Prix Final, and bronze at the 2025 Skate Canada International.

To support her training, Nakai's mother relocated the family from Niigata to Funabashi, Chiba Prefecture, where she trains at the MF Figure Skating Academy. She credits Mao Asada as her inspiration for taking up the sport. At just 18 years old, Nakai has already achieved Olympic success, and her career continues to evolve with each season.