OLYMPICS: Figure skating-Metelkina and Berulava win Georgia's first ever Winter Olympic medal

MILAN – Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava made history for Georgia on Monday, capturing the country’s first Winter Olympic medal with a silver in the pairs figure skating event at the Milano Cortina 2026 Games.

The reigning European champions have steadily risen since teaming up in spring 2023, and their breakthrough in Milan was a milestone for both their careers and their nation.

“It’s the best day of my life,” an emotional Berulava said. “I’m so very happy. It’s an amazing moment for my country. I have no words. I’m shocked.”

After Japan’s Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara delivered a world-record performance to claim gold, Metelkina and Berulava faced a tense battle for second place with teams from Germany, Hungary, and Canada. A clean landing on their throw triple loop proved decisive in securing the silver medal.

“No!” Metelkina laughed when asked about the moment. “I’m used to landings. It happened how it happened. There is still space to grow, and we will improve our performance.”

Japan took gold with a score of 231.24, while Metelkina and Berulava earned 221.75 for silver. Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin of Germany, who led after the short program, took bronze with 219.09.

Metelkina, 20, and Berulava, 23, said managing their energy and fitness across four performances – two in the team event and two in pairs – was crucial to their success. They also said the experience in Milan will help them aim even higher in future competitions.

“We won’t say whether we will reach the gold medal next time, but we’ll spend all our energy on it,” Metelkina said.

-Reporting by Rory Carroll in Milan; Editing by Stephen Coates/Reuters