Americans Gear Up for Olympic Year with Unprecedented Depth in Figure Skating Talent

The landscape of U.S. figure skating has never appeared so promising as the nation approaches the Olympic year. With a remarkable pool of talent, recent performances have ignited hopes for unprecedented success at the Milano-Cortina Games

BOSTON — The United States is entering an Olympic year with a figure skating roster that boasts both depth and accomplishment. Following an impressive showing at the world championships, where the U.S. clinched three titles for the first time in history, expectations are high for record-breaking performances.

At the last Olympics in Beijing, Team USA secured two golds and a bronze. Despite their success, the U.S. has not amassed more than three figure skating medals in any Olympic event since the four earned during the Squaw Valley Olympics in 1960.

“It’s happening, and it’s happening really quite a lot for the U.S.,” remarked Gracie Gold, a two-time national champion and figure skating broadcaster. Her optimism reflects a growing sentiment among skaters and fans alike.

Ilia Malinin captured his second consecutive men’s title during the world championships, delighting the home crowd with a quad-heavy routine that earned him a standing ovation. Earlier, Madison Chock and Evan Bates won gold in ice dance, while Alysa Liu achieved her first world women’s title, marking a significant milestone for the U.S. team.

Adding to the positive outlook, Isabeau Levito and Amber Glenn, who finished fourth and fifth respectively, highlighted the strength of U.S. women’s figure skating, with three athletes in the top five.

“Go Team USA. That’s all I can say,” Liu expressed, praising her teammates’ competitive spirit. “They were really fun to be with this week.”

Although the U.S. did not secure medals in pairs, the performances from Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov, along with Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea, indicate a possible future for American pairs skating, aiming to send athletes to the 2026 Games—a first since 1994.

Nathan Chen, the 2022 Olympic gold medalist who retired from competition, noted that had previous champions like Brandon Frazier and Alexa Knierim been active, the U.S. might have achieved a medal sweep at the worlds. He remains engaged in the sport through shows and is currently applying to medical school.

The U.S. has previously enjoyed its best Olympic figure skating performances in 1956, with five medals earned in Italy. The addition of ice dance and team competitions has since expanded the opportunities for medals.

The Russian and Belarusian bans from world competitions due to the invasion of Ukraine have also reshaped the competitive landscape, potentially benefiting American athletes.

Historically, the U.S. has excelled in ice dance, with consistent podium finishes since the mid-2000s. Bates, reflecting on the strength of American ice dance, acknowledged the legacy of past champions while celebrating the current successes.

“We’ve had a U.S. team on the world podium for a pretty long while,” Bates stated, underscoring the momentum of American figure skating as they look towards the upcoming Olympics.