In a thrilling night at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships held inside the packed Enterprise Center in St. Louis, elite American figure skaters showcased skill, determination, and resilience. Amber Glenn delivered a near-perfect free skate that solidified her status as a top contender for her third consecutive national title, stringing together flawless jumps including her trademark triple axel. Meanwhile, her rivals and teammates fought fiercely, with memorable performances from rising stars and seasoned veterans alike. As medals were awarded and standings finalized, the event also held a tense undercurrent: the fate of athletes’ Olympic dreams hung in the balance, with citizenship and selection processes adding layers of suspense.
Amber Glenn Clinches Third National Title
Glenn’s performance was nothing short of extraordinary, capturing the attention of spectators and critics alike. Starting her routine with her signature triple axel—a move that has become her signature—she seamlessly moved through her program, maintaining confidence and technical precision. Her artistic expression, combined with technical consistency, earned her a total score of 233.55 points, marking her as the first woman since Michelle Kwan in 2005 to secure three consecutive national titles.
Overcoming the Odds
Despite her impressive execution, Glenn admitted to feeling under physical distress during her performance. “I felt like I was going to throw up. My stomach has been bothering me all day. Woof,” she commented afterward. “Fake it ’till you make it. I took that to heart. I was just trying to get in touch with my body and get a feel for the ice, and I think my years of experience kicked in.” Her resilience and ability to perform under pressure demonstrated her seasoned prowess, especially considering the emotional and physical hurdles faced during the competition.
Close Competition and Rising Stars
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Lying just behind Glenn, Alysa Liu delivered a compelling free skate, boosting her to second place overall with 228.91 points. Liu, sporting a vivid, newly dyed halo hairstyle that captured attention off the ice, showed her maturity and readiness for the Olympic stage. Her performance, which included impressive jumps and expressive skating, showcased her growth since last year’s event. Liu expressed confidence in her routine and training, noting the extra pressure of competing in an Olympic year.
Isabeau Levito rounded out the podium with 224.45 points, her elegant performance set to music from “Cinema Paradiso.” The 18-year-old’s performance marked her season best, boosting her into the top spot at the decisive moment. “First time competing at nationals in an Olympic year being age-eligible for the Olympics, so there was extra pressure,” Levito shared, adding, “I was happy that I could rely on my training to get me through my program.” Her artistry and technical skills indicate she could be a name to watch in future international competitions.
Potential Olympic Team Picks
The results are more than just medals—they are a crucial step toward selection for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. The official team announcement is scheduled for Sunday, but the performances provided clear indications of who might earn a spot. Glenn’s victory positions her as a strong candidate for the women’s team, with Liu and Levito also competing for the remaining spots. The U.S. has secured three spots in women’s figure skating for Milan, but the selection process will narrow down the best candidates.
Pairs Competition and World Championship Contenders
The pairs event saw a compelling contest between defending champions Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov, who managed to defend their title despite encountering some mishaps. Their routine, performed to “Where Do I Begin?”—a tribute to Olympic legends Katia Gordeeva and Sergey Grinkov—was marked by grace and emotion. While they had a rocky moment after a fall during their double Axel following a strong triple twist, the team’s overall score of 207.71 was enough to hold them ahead of Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea, who finished second with 197.12 points.
Olympic Qualification Challenges
The victory has a significant impact on their potential Olympic eligibility. Efimova, born in Finland and having competed for Germany and Russia before representing the U.S., is a U.S. citizen but has yet to obtain her American passport. Her partner, Mitrofanov, is a U.S. citizen by marriage but does not yet possess U.S. citizenship, which is a strict requirement for Olympic participation. The couple’s training base at the Skating Club of Boston has been actively lobbying with U.S. senators and U.S. Figure Skating officials to expedite Efimova’s citizenship process, but time is critically tight ahead of Sunday’s team selection deadline.
The U.S. has already secured full quota for women, but in pairs, only two spots are available. Efimova and Mitrofanov could potentially fill one if her citizenship is approved in time. The other two American pairs, Kam and O’Shea, are widely expected to make their first Olympic appearance, but McBeath and Parkman are ineligible because Parkman lacks U.S. citizenship. Ultimately, this leaves U.S. Figure Skating with the difficult task of choosing the second pairs team for the Olympics—potentially selecting between rising teams like Audrey Shin and Balazs Nagy or relying on existing results.
Upcoming Decisions and Implications
As the competition concluded, all eyes turned to the looming Sunday deadline for team nominations. Efimova and Mitrofanov’s status hangs in the balance, with their fate likely to determine the makeup of the pairs team at the Olympics. Meanwhile, in the singles categories, the top American women have solidified their spots, with Glenn, Liu, and Levito emerging as strong contenders for the Olympic podium.
The event also highlighted the depth of American talent, with emerging skaters making significant impressions and veterans reaffirming their elite standing. The performances underscore the intense competition and high stakes involved in Olympic qualification, where every jump, step, and artistic interpretation could prove decisive.
The U.S. can be expected to finalize its Olympic team in the coming days, with the selected athletes poised to represent the nation on the international stage in Milan. The path ahead remains uncertain for some, but the night in St. Louis demonstrated that American figure skating continues to thrive with a fresh wave of talented skaters eager to leave their mark on Olympic history.
