2026 U.S. Skating Nationals Results

Alysa Liu © Pinterest

The 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in St. Louis, Missouri, have officially reached a fever pitch. As of the morning of January 8, 2026, the first sets of scores are in, and the pressure is mounting for the remaining disciplines. This event serves as the final, high-stakes audition for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.

Results and Standings

The competition opened with a showcase of technical precision and artistic growth in the Pairs division.

Championship Pairs: Short Program Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov delivered a standout performance, earning a 75.31 to take a comfortable lead. Their program was highlighted by a high-flying triple twist and synchronized side-by-side jumps, setting a high bar for the rest of the field. Following them in second place are Audrey Shin and Balazs Nagy with 67.67, closely followed by Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea in third with 67.13. Valentina Plazas and Maximiliano Fernandez sit in fourth (67.03), while Katie McBeath and Daniil Parkman round out the top five with 66.81.

Anticipated Showdowns All eyes are now turning to the Men’s Short Program. Ilia Malinin, known as the “Quad God,” is expected to attempt technical content rarely seen at a national level to solidify his status as the gold medal favorite for Milan. In the women’s event, Alysa Liu and Amber Glenn are locked in a battle of styles. While Glenn brings veteran power and the elusive triple Axel, Liu counters with world-class consistency and intricate choreography.

Upcoming Schedule: The Road to Milan

The results from the following segments will ultimately decide the three spots available for the U.S. Olympic team in each discipline:

• Thursday, Jan 8: The Rhythm Dance begins at 4:00 PM, followed by the highly anticipated Men’s Short Program at 7:15 PM.
• Friday, Jan 9: The first champions will be crowned during the Pairs and Women’s Free Skates.
• Saturday, Jan 10: The event concludes with the Ice Dance Free Dance and the Men’s Free Skate.

As the scores continue to climb, every performance in St. Louis brings these athletes one step closer to making their Olympic dreams a reality in Italy.

Source: article by Scott Bregman on olympics.com, published January 7, 2026.

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By Vitalina Andrushchenko, Staff Writer