Team USA is sending one of its strongest figure-skating squads ever to Milano Cortina. The U.S. Olympic Trials for figure skating are always a nail-biting pressure cooker, and version 2026 was no exception. Three spots each were available in the women’s, men’s, and ice-dance events, and two spots for the pairs event.The deep fields led to tough competition at the U.S. National Championships in St. Louis, which double as the Olympic Trials.
For the first time, U.S. figure skaters could make history by winning medals in four of the five skating events—in the team, men’s, women’s, and ice dance disciplines. And at least three of those medals could be gold.
WOMEN
The U.S. women are currently among the best in the world; among them, they earned six U.S. titles and two world medals. But that doesn’t mean they see each other as rivals. Amber Glenn, Isabeau Levito, and Alysa Liu have developed a sisterhood rare in the world of solitary singles skating, often finishing each other’s sentences or thoughts.
Amber Glenn: Glenn, from Plano, Texas, will be competing at her first Olympics after winning her third straight U.S. title in St. Louis—the first woman to do so since Michelle Kwan. Glenn, 26, has been open about seeking mental-health help to build the resilience that supported her comeback journey. “It took completely stripping down everything to just survive every day,” she says.+1
Alysa Liu: The Oakland native wowed the sport in 2019 as the youngest senior U.S. champion at 13. After retiring at age 16 following the Beijing Games, Liu returned in 2024 with a new perspective, determined to enjoy the experience on her own terms. “What is there to lose? Every second you are there you are gaining something,” she says.
Isabeau Levito: The 18-year-old from New Jersey is essentially returning home; her mother is from Milan. Levito is the balletic counter to Glenn and Liu’s powerhouse style, with long lines and a consistent flow that could land her in the Olympic top 10.
All eyes will be on the “Quad God,” but the team is rounded out by stories of immense grit.
Ilia Malinin: The Virginia native has elevated the sport to new heights. Last December, Malinin became the first skater to successfully land seven quad jumps in a single program. After being left off the 2022 team, he used that “fire inside” to push forward.+1
Andrew Torgashev: After injuries made him consider retirement at 18, Torgashev moved to California for a fresh start. Now 24, he is traveling to his first Olympics as the 2026 U.S. silver medalist.
Maxim Naumov: Naumov’s spot on the team is a tribute to his parents, world champion pairs skaters Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, who were killed in a plane crash in January 2025. “I know they are looking down, smiling and proud,” Naumov said after fulfilling their collective dream.
ICE DANCE
The U.S. squad hopes to continue North America’s recent dominance on the podium.
Madison Chock and Evan Bates: The reigning world champions and gold-medal favorites are known for innovative storytelling and Chock’s self-designed costumes. This season, they portray a matador and a bull in a creative flamenco-style program.
Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik: Zingas, a former singles skater, and Kolesnik, originally from Ukraine, partnered in 2022 and quickly rose through the ranks to earn their first trip to the Olympics.
Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko: After years of Carreira driving across the U.S.-Canadian border daily to train while maintaining her residency, she finally received her citizenship in late 2025, securing their Olympic eligibility.
PAIRS
Citizenship challenges for the top two finishers at Nationals led to Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea, and Emily Chan and Spencer Akira Howe being named to the team. O’Shea, 34, has been skating for 30 years to make this dream a reality. Howe, who enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2024, joins as part of the World Class Athlete Program.
Olympic Schedule: Milano Cortina 2026
Feb 6: Team Event (Rhythm Dance, Pairs SP, Women SP)
Feb 7: Team Event (Men SP, Free Dance)
Feb 8: Team Event (Pairs FS, Women FS, Men FS — Medal)
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