Team USA has finalized its figure-skating roster for the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics, selecting 16 athletes after the U.S. championships in St. Louis.
At a Glance
- Sixteen skaters chosen Sunday include 13 first-time Olympians
- Three returning Olympians headline ice-dance and women’s events
- Competition begins next month in Italy
- Why it matters: The selections set the stage for U.S. medal hopes in figure skating’s biggest stage
Michael A. Turner reported for News Of Philadelphia that the announcement came immediately after the national championships wrapped, giving the athletes minimal turnaround before the Winter Games commence.
Ice Dance Veterans Lead the Way
Madison Chock and Evan Bates headline the ice-dance contingent, marking their fourth Olympic appearance as a pair. The married duo previously captured gold in the 2022 team event and enter as the top American finishers at nationals.
Joining them are two debutant teams:
- Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko – third at nationals, both age 25
- Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik – second behind Chock and Bates
Pairs Category Mixes Youth and Experience
Ellie Kam, 21, and Danny O’Shea, 34, partner up after joining forces in 2022. Both hail from Colorado Springs, Colorado, and will skate in their first Olympics.
Emily Chan and Spence Akira Howe earned the second pairs slot despite placing fourth at nationals, underscoring selection criteria that factor season-long performance.
Women’s Singles Showcases Depth
Amber Glenn, 26, tops the women’s list after winning the national title. The Texas native missed the 2022 team due to a disappointing nationals result compounded by a positive COVID-19 test.
Additional selections:
- Isabeau Levito, 18, from Mount Laurel, New Jersey – third at nationals
- Alysa Liu, 20, from Oakland, California – returning for her second Games after debuting at age 16 in 2022
Liu finished sixth in Beijing and second this week, signaling continued competitiveness on the international stage.
Men’s Lineup Headlined by Quad God
Ilia Malinin, nicknamed the “Quad God,” secured his spot by sweeping the short program and free skate in St. Louis. The 21-year-old is renowned for landing the daunting quadruple axel and owns two world titles plus three U.S. championships.
Backing him up:
- Maxim Naumov, 24, from Norwood, Massachusetts – third at nationals
- Andrew Torgashev, 24, from Coral Springs, Florida – second at nationals
All three men will make their Olympic debut next month.
Quick Facts
| Category | Selected Athletes | Nationals Finish |
|---|---|---|
| Ice Dance | Chock/Bates | 1st |
| Ice Dance | Zingas/Kolesnik | 2nd |
| Ice Dance | Carreira/Ponomarenko | 3rd |
| Pairs | Kam/O’Shea | 2nd |
| Pairs | Chan/Howe | 4th |
| Women | Glenn | 1st |
| Women | Liu | 2nd |
| Women | Levito | 3rd |
| Men | Malinin | 1st |
| Men | Torgashev | 2nd |
| Men | Naumov | 3rd |
Key Takeaways
- Youth movement: 13 of 16 skaters are first-time Olympians, signaling a generational shift.
- Veteran presence: Chock, Bates, and Liu provide prior Games experience to steady the squad.
- National results mattered: most selections mirrored top-three nationals finishes, with only the second pairs spot deviating.
The team now heads into final training blocks before traveling to Italy, where competition starts next month.
