Sawt Falasteen - Japan's Nakai shines on ice as Frostad soars to Olympic big air gold

Nikai, 17, upstaged teammate Kaori Sakamoto at the Milano Ice Skating Arena while America's Alysa Liu rounded out a powerful top three after the short programme.

Sakamoto is searching for an elusive gold at her final Winter Games but faces a stiff challenge from a new generation of Japanese stars including Nakai and Mone Chiba.

The 25-year-old Sakamoto, a relative veteran in the sport, won both of her segments in the team event earlier in the Games as Japan took silver behind the United States.

She remains well placed ahead of what promises to be a titanic battle in Thursday's free skate but her young teammate has the advantage.

Nakai's sparkling, circus-like skate to "La Strada" by Nino Rota stole the show on Tuesday, earning her a personal-best 78.71 points.

Three-time world champion Sakamoto, who won Olympic singles bronze in Beijing four years ago, is lying in wait on 77.23 points.

World champion Liu scored 76.59 followed by Mone and Russian Adeliia Petrosian, competing at the Milan-Cortina Games as a neutral.

Nakai punched the air in delight having nailed her elements including a difficult three-and-a-half-rotation triple axel.

She said she felt like she was "dreaming" at her first Winter Olympics.

Asked about Thursday's free programme, she said: "I want to make sure I land the triple axel and then enjoy the performance until the very end of it."

She added: "The Americans push me with their difficult jumps, including the triple axel. But at the same time, they're all very nice people, so I just want to enjoy my time with them on the ice."

- Frostad dazzles in big air -

Norway's Frostad found an extra gear under the most intense pressure to win the men's freestyle skiing big air gold at a snow-swept Livigno.

The 23-year-old posted a remarkable winning total of 195.50 to top the podium, with the USA's Mac Forehand just behind him on 193.25. Austria's Matej Svancer took bronze with 191.25.

Forehand moved into the gold medal position with only Frostad left to ski in the third run but the Norwegian scored a staggering competition-high 98.50 to reclaim top spot.

"The level was just insane," Frostad said. "It feels crazy. I'm beyond happy to showcase my skiing."

Earlier, Norway's Jens Oftebro won his second Nordic combined gold medal of the Winter Games, adding the large hill to the normal hill title.

The 25-year-old could make it a treble when he and his compatriots defend their crown from the 2022 Beijing Games in the team combined on Thursday.

On the speedskating track in Milan, Canada's women won team pursuit gold while Italy claimed victory in the men's event.

France celebrated biathlon gold in the men's 4 x 7.5km relay, which took them to a new national record of 16 medals at a Winter Games.

Sweden, Germany, Switzerland and the Czech Republic all won their ice hockey play-off matches to progress to the quarter-finals.

Away from the action, ski star Lindsey Vonn said "being back on home soil feels amazing" after returning to the United States having undergone four operations on the broken leg she suffered in a horrific crash in the women's downhill.

The 41-year-old had been in hospital in Italy since her heavy fall on February 8.

Alpine skiing wraps up on Wednesday with the women's slalom in Cortina d'Ampezzo -- with US star Mikaela Shiffrin still hunting for her first Olympic medal since the 2018 Pyeongchang Games.

Norway have a huge lead at the top of the medals table, with 14 golds and 31 overall. Hosts Italy are in second spot with nine golds and a total of 24 medals.

P.Tamimi--SF-PST