MILAN, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) --The United States successfully defended its title in the figure skating team event at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on Sunday, with Japan finishing a close second and host Italy taking bronze.

The United States and Japan entered the men's free skate - the final segment of the competition - tied atop the overall standings.

American star Ilia Malinin did not land his signature quad Axel but electrified the crowd with a backflip in his routine. Despite minor errors, the 21-year-old scored 200.03 points to win the free skate and earn the maximum 10 points, sealing victory for Team USA.

Skating last under intense pressure, Japan's Shun Sato delivered a clean performance and posted a season-best 194.86 points, placing second.

Italy's Matteo Rizzo, competing in his third Olympic Games, scored 179.62 points to finish third, helping the host nation secure a podium place.

In the pairs free skate earlier in the evening, Japan's Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara scored a season-best 155.55 points, coming out the distant frontrunners and earning 10 points for their team.

"We were aiming for about 145 points or a little bit higher, when we saw that it was 155.55, it was just so much joy. I was overwhelmed with emotion," Miura said.

Georgia's Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava placed second with 139.70 points, while Italy's Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii finished third with 136.61 points.

In the women's free skate, Beijing 2022 bronze medalist Kaori Sakamoto topped the standings with 148.62 points, earning another 10 points for Japan.

"In my eyes, everybody has delivered a gold-medal performance, so it really doesn't matter what color medal we get," Sakamoto said.

Georgia's Anastasiia Gubanova finished second with 140.17 points. Six-time ISU Grand Prix medalist Amber Glenn placed third with 138.62 points, earning eight points for the United States.

"For all of us first-time Olympians, you saw our nerves, and just getting it out. So I'm really grateful that I was able to have this opportunity [before] the individual [event]," Glenn said.