On a chilly Friday night in St. Louis, the air inside the Enterprise Center crackled with anticipation as the brightest stars of American figure skating took to the ice for the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships. By the time the final notes faded and the scores were tallied, it was clear: Amber Glenn had once again etched her name into the history books, clinching her third consecutive national title with a dazzling performance that could signal a new dawn for U.S. women’s figure skating on the Olympic stage.
Glenn, 26, opened her long program to "I Will Find You" by Audiomachine with a bold triple axel—a jump so technically demanding that few women in the world attempt it, let alone land it cleanly under pressure. Her routine, marked by soulful artistry and only the slightest of wobbles, earned her a combined score of 233.55. That not only sealed her third straight national crown but also made her the first woman to accomplish a three-peat since the legendary Michelle Kwan’s reign ended in 2005.
"I felt like I was going to throw up. My stomach has been bothering me all day. Woof," Glenn confessed afterwards, her nerves giving way to relief and elation. "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." The crowd responded in kind, rising to their feet and showering her with applause as she skated off, visibly moved and soon in tears as she embraced her coach, Damon Allen, at rinkside.
But Glenn’s triumph was only part of a larger story—the resurgence of American women’s figure skating. For the first time in decades, the U.S. boasts a trio of contenders who could end a medal drought that stretches back to Sasha Cohen’s silver in 2006 and Sarah Hughes’ gold in 2002. Alysa Liu, the reigning world champion and two-time U.S. national champion, returned to the sport after a two-year hiatus with a vengeance. Skating to a medley of Lady Gaga hits, Liu’s exuberant and technically brilliant free skate earned her the silver medal with a score of 228.91.
"She trains so hard," Liu said of Glenn, showing no trace of disappointment as she cheered her rival and friend. "And to skate a clean program, it's so deserving." Liu herself was radiant after her short program earlier in the week, gushing, "I feel over the moon right now. I’m so happy with that short program. I would say that’s my favorite program I’ve done that I’ve performed for an audience." Her viral hairdo—a halo of white stripes—only added to her growing legend among fans and fellow skaters alike.
Rounding out the podium was Isabeau Levito, the 18-year-old 2023 national champion whose balletic grace and technical consistency have made her a steady force on the ice. Skating to the evocative soundtrack of "Cinema Paradiso," Levito delivered a nearly flawless program for a total of 224.45 points. "First time competing at nationals in an Olympic year being age-eligible for the Olympics, so there was extra pressure," Levito admitted. "I was happy that I could rely on my training to get me through my program." Her performance, a season best, pushed her into the likely third and final women’s spot for the U.S. Olympic team.
The camaraderie among the three was on full display in the kiss-and-cry area, where Glenn, Liu, and Levito shared a heartfelt group hug. "We all deserve it," Glenn said tearfully, a sentiment echoed by Liu’s quiet, "All of us." The unity and depth of talent among these women have sparked optimism that the Americans could finally return to the Olympic podium in Milan next month. As Glenn put it, "If we do our jobs in Milan, then more than likely someone is going to be up there."
The championships weren’t just about the women, though. In the pairs competition, Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov captured their second consecutive national title with a score of 207.71. Their free skate, set to "Where Do I Begin?" from the classic film "Love Story," was a tribute to Olympic legends Katia Gordeeva and Sergey Grinkov. Despite a couple of mistakes—including a near-miss when Mitrofanov was almost clipped by Efimova’s skate—the duo’s technical prowess and chemistry shone through. However, their Olympic dreams hang in the balance as Efimova’s U.S. citizenship application remains pending. The International Olympic Committee requires all competitors to be citizens of the countries they represent, and Efimova, born in Finland and a green card holder, has not yet received her U.S. passport.
The Skating Club of Boston, where the pair trains, has been working feverishly with U.S. senators and skating officials to expedite the process, but time is running out before the Olympic team must be announced. "The committee will follow the approved selection procedure, which requires athletes to have a U.S. passport by the time of nomination," stated U.S. Figure Skating CEO Matt Farrell. If Efimova’s citizenship is not approved in time, Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea, who finished second with 197.12 points, are poised to make their Olympic debut. Katie McBeath and Daniil Parkman placed third, but Parkman’s lack of U.S. citizenship makes them ineligible for the Games.
The drama wasn’t confined to the top three. Emily Chan and Spencer Howe staged a remarkable comeback to finish fourth after a tough short program, while the promising team of Audrey Shin and Balazs Nagy rounded out the top five. In the women’s field, two-time national champion Bradie Tennell finished fourth, her highest score since 2021, but it wasn’t enough to crack the podium in such a stacked lineup. Tennell, who helped the U.S. to a team bronze in 2018, fought back tears as she left the ice, her Olympic dreams likely dashed for another cycle.
As the dust settles and the official Olympic team announcement looms, the sense of possibility is palpable. The U.S. women’s team—Glenn, Liu, and Levito—has the talent, experience, and camaraderie to challenge for the podium in Milan. Meanwhile, the pairs field waits with bated breath for a citizenship decision that could reshape their Olympic hopes. With the Winter Games set to begin on February 6, the final roster will soon be set, and American figure skating fans everywhere will be watching closely, hoping this is the year the stars align.
For now, the spotlight belongs to Glenn, Liu, and Levito, whose performances have reignited hope for U.S. figure skating. Their journey to Milan promises drama, determination, and, just maybe, a long-awaited return to Olympic glory.
