This past month, the U.S. Figure Skating Championships were held in St. Louis to determine the U.S. qualifiers for the upcoming Winter Olympics. The competition included record-breaking performances, returning champions and citizenship questions, resulting in a diverse team set to represent the U.S. in Italy from Feb. 6-22.
In women’s singles, 26-year-old Amber Glenn finished first with a record-breaking score of 83.05, the highest ever for a women’s short program at the competition. She is the first openly queer woman to represent the U.S. in Olympic figure skating as well as the oldest U.S. women’s champion since 1928.
Alysa Liu came in second, impressing fans with her creative and energetic free skate program to Lady Gaga’s biggest hits, including “Paparazzi,” “Chromatica” and “Bad Romance.” Liu became the youngest woman ever to win the U.S Figure Skating Championships at just 13 years old back in 2019 and took a break from competitive skating from 2022 to 2024. Her return surprised many, making her one of the most anticipated skaters this season.
Isabeu Levito is the youngest qualifier, this being her Olympic debut at 18 years old. She is known for her graceful, artistic and elegant style, often nicknamed the “Ice Princess.” She won the U.S. women’s single championship back in 2023, meaning the top three finalists are all current or former U.S. champions. A very well-qualified and all-rounded selection for the women’s singles division!
In the men’s division, returning champion Ilia Malinin won with a score of 324.88, nearly 60 points ahead of the runner-up. Malinin is a four-time U.S. champion and two-time world champion, currently dominating domestic and international figure skating competitions at just 21 years old.
Andrew Torgashev placed second and will make his Olympic debut at 24 years old. He is the back-to-back silver medalist in both the 2025 and 2026 U.S. championships and has been working his way up to the top steadily.
The third spot went to Maxim Naumov, with an emotional and elegant rendition of “In this Shirt” by The Irrepressibles. His journey has touched and inspired many, as he completed his family’s wish of becoming an Olympian nearly a year after the deaths of his parents. With all three men making their Olympic debut, the stakes are high and fans are excited to see a new generation of skaters compete on the world’s biggest stage!
The qualifying pairs caused a stir, with the Olympic team not mirroring the top thre results seen at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. The highest scoring pair, Misha Mitrofinov and Elisa Efimova were ultimately not selected for the Olympics because Efimova’s U.S. citizenship was not approved in time to compete. The second-place team had the same issue, with Katie McBeath and Daniil Parkman missing out on this Olympic cycle because Parkman had not yet obtained U.S. citizenship.
This led to the third and fourth place qualifiers being selected for the Olympic team instead. The first pair is Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea, the 2024 U.S. champions. Despite only skating together for about 3 years, the pair has consistently demonstrated their compatibility and chemistry on the ice.
The next pair is Emily Chan and Spencer Howe, who have earned multiple silver in several U.S. and international competitions. Despite the unique circumstances, both pairs have shown optimism towards the opportunity, leaving fans eager to see their upcoming performances.
The U.S. figure skating Olympic team is packed with talent, from returning champions and new faces alike, sparking hope for a shot to see an American on the podium at Italy this February! The Winter Olympics will be available to watch on NBC, CNBC and Peacock.
