With the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games just a year away, 56 Figure Skaters from around the world had the unique opportunity to compete at the Forum Assago, the future Olympic venue for Figure Skating and Short Track Speed Skating. The Road to 26 Trophy, held on February 19 and 20 in Milan, served as an Olympic test event, giving skaters a preview of the arena where dreams will come true in February 2026.

Olympic vibes in Milan

In just one year, the Forum Assago will transform into the Milano Ice Skating Arena, a place where every Figure Skater aspires to compete. The Road to 26 Trophy welcomed 12 women, 12 men, 8 pair skating teams, and 8 ice dance couples from 19 countries, all eager to experience the Olympic ice. The excitement was palpable, as each Skater hoped to return next year for the pinnacle of their careers; the Olympic Winter Games.

Estonia's Niina Petrokina performs during the Women Single Skating - Free Skating program at the Milano Ice Skating Arena in Milan, Road to 26 Trophy, a Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games test event. (Photo by Piero CRUCIATTI / AFP) 

The newly minted ISU European Champion Niina Petrokina came mainly to test the ice in Milan. After making errors on two jumping passes in the Short Program, the Estonian rebounded with a strong Free Skating to win the Trophy. 

“It was surprisingly calm. It was very interesting to see how everything was built inside and outside, it got my imagination going. It will be also interesting to see how everything will change for next year,” Petrokina said.

 “I already can imagine how the Olympics will look like here. Full stands, an unbelievable energy from the fans, the heat of passion. I think the atmosphere will be just amazing. 

“The opportunity to feel the ice beforehand, to get used to its specifics is really a good advantage. This gives additional motivation to work even harder, as you are imagining yourself to be here in the Olympic season,” she concluded.

For reigning ISU World silver medalist Isabeau Levito (USA) the Trophy was not only a great opportunity to participate in the test event but also an important step after her injury that kept her out of her second ISU Grand Prix and U.S. Nationals. In order to confirm her selection for the upcoming ISU World Championships, she had to do a competition and Milan was the perfect place to do just that. 

Italy is close to Levito’s heart. She speaks the language and her mother is Italian. 

Kevin Aymoz of France topped the Men’s podium and seems to gain momentum again ahead of the ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Boston (USA) that will serve as the main qualifier for the Olympic Winter Games. The Frenchman felt that he is back on track after finishing 22^nd at the ISU European Championships a few weeks ago. 

Runner-up Nikolai Memola of Italy enjoyed the experience as well. 

“When I stepped on the ice for the first time, I was like, ‘Oh wow, this is going to be the place’,” the 2024 ISU European silver medalist told the media at the event. “To qualify, it’s a very hard job, so that’s going to be the goal, but when I walked on the ice, I was like, ‘Oh, that’s great’. It was a great boost.”

Finland's Juulia Turkkila and Matthias Versluis (C), gold, USA's Caroline Green and Michael Parsons (L), silver, Germany's Jennifer Janse van Rensburg and Benjamin Steffan, bronze, celebrate after winning the Ice Dance Skating competition at the Milano Ice Skating Road to 26 Trophy, a Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games test event. (Photo by Piero CRUCIATTI / AFP)

 Ice Dance bronze medalists Jennifer Janse van Rensburg/Benjamin Steffan of Germany were thrilled to be part of the event. 

“The feeling in the rink was cool,” Steffan commented. “We were told not to get used too much to the walk ways as the whole decoration will be changed but the music sounded really good on the ice and it felt very good. It was nice to get a taste of it. If everything works out for us (to qualify) it is a nice feeling to have tried the ice and to have had a positive experience in that rink that we could take with us to the Games next year. 

"We are happy that that big goal that we have set for ourselves has come a little closer and was somewhat palpable in Milan,” he added.

“It was definitely an extra motivation booster for me to see that Milan is prepared for the Olympic Games,” Janse van Rensburg noted.

The Road to 26 Trophy Pair Skating Champions Rebecca Ghilardi/Filippo Ambrosini of Italy loved the atmosphere in the rink. Quite a few fans had come to support the Skaters and especially the Italians. 

Italy's Rebecca Ghilardi and Filippo Ambrosini, gold, USA's Katie McBeath and Daniil Parkman, Silver, and Ukraine's Sofiia Holichenko and Artem Darenskyi, bronze, at the Milano Ice Skating Arena Road to 26 Trophy, a Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games test event. (Photo by Piero CRUCIATTI / AFP)

For more information, full entry lists and results, visit the ISU event page of the Road to 26 Trophy. Follow the discussion on social media using #FigureSkating.