Milan, Italy – Loena Hendrickx of Belgium delivered a strong performance in the women’s short program at the Olympic Winter Games on , securing a provisional third-place position. Fellow Belgian Nina Pinzarrone also impressed, landing in eleventh and qualifying for the free skate.
Hendrickx, skating to Céline Dion’s “I Surrender,” achieved a score of 70.93, a result she described as a testament to her mental fortitude despite a challenging preparation. “Despite my preparation being disrupted, I managed to adopt a good attitude,” Hendrickx stated after her routine. “I knew I was capable of delivering a beautiful performance, and even though it was difficult, I chose to fight. I wasn’t too nervous; I felt good, I had confidence, and I enjoyed the moment, from beginning to end, perhaps like never before!”
While acknowledging a less-than-perfect first jump, Hendrickx demonstrated resilience, continuing her program with determination. “My first jump wasn’t perfect, but I pulled myself together and continued. Mentally, I was very strong,” she explained. “At the end, I felt a great sense of relief. My goal was to reach 70 points, and I think the jury felt all my passion for skating tonight.”
Pinzarrone, skating to Susan Boyle’s rendition of “Send in the Clowns,” earned a score of 68.97, placing her in a strong position to compete in the free skate. “I am really super happy,” Pinzarrone exclaimed, radiating joy. “I expressed my joy at the end. I wanted to enjoy this experience and be proud of my performance, and I am!”
Pinzarrone admitted to some pre-competition nerves, but noted that the atmosphere of the Olympic venue was particularly impactful. “I was a little stressed, but not much more than in other competitions. I was more nervous this morning when I practiced on the ice for the first time, seeing the Olympic rings adorning this magnificent hall. It was very impressive!” she said. She also expressed satisfaction with her performance relative to previous competitions, stating, “Despite everything, I scored three points more than at the Euros and approached my personal best. That’s great! This first Olympic final was of course the goal, but I didn’t want to think about it too much…”
The performance of both Belgian skaters ensures their participation in the free skate, which will feature the top 24 competitors. Hendrickx expressed optimism for the next phase of the competition, stating, “It will be another day, we’ll all start from scratch. But my Games can’t get any worse…” Pinzarrone echoed this sentiment, adding, “I will concentrate on my performance and try to show that I belong with the best in the world.”
The women’s short program also saw strong performances from Japanese skaters. Ami Nakai led the field with a score of 78.71, followed by Kaori Sakamoto (77.23) and Alysa Liu of the United States (76.59). Mone Chiba of Japan secured the fourth qualifying spot with a score of 74.00. Adeliia Petroisian (72.89) of AIN and Anastasiia Gubanova (71.77) of Georgia rounded out the top six.
Other notable performances included Loena Hendrickx’s seventh-place finish (70.93), Isabeau Levito of the USA in eighth (70.84), Haein Lee of Korea in ninth (70.07), and Niina Petrokina of Estonia in tenth (69.63).
The competition continues with the free skate, where the skaters will have the opportunity to further solidify their positions and contend for the Olympic podium. The results from the short program demonstrate a high level of competition, setting the stage for an exciting conclusion to the women’s figure skating event at the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.
