Key Takeaways
- The United States National Team claimed three medals at the 2026 Britannia Cup, with the Haydenettes earning bronze in the senior event and Teams Elite junior securing gold in the junior competition.
- Skyliners junior took home the bronze medal in the junior event, while Miami University finished fourth in the senior event.
- The Haydenettes and Teams Elite junior will look to continue their success at the U.S. Synchronized Skating International Classic, while Miami University heads to Poland for the Hevelius Cup.
- The 2026 Challenger Series Synchronized Skating continues on January 22 with the Lumiere Cup.
Introduction to the 2026 Britannia Cup
The 2026 Britannia Cup, the first Challenger Series Synchronized Skating event of 2026, saw the United States National Team claim three medals. The Haydenettes, the 32-time and reigning U.S. champions, earned bronze in the senior event with a total score of 221.86. Teams Elite junior secured gold in the junior competition with a score of 135.35, while Skyliners junior took home the bronze medal with a total score of 189.88. Miami University finished fourth in the senior event, rounding out the U.S. results.
The Haydenettes’ Performance
The Haydenettes entered the free skate in third place, having scored a season’s best 78.49 points in the short program. Their "Crazy Train" program featured two elements that each earned more than nine points: their move element and intersection, both Level 4s. In the free skate, the team scored a season’s best 143.37, with six of their elements achieving Level 4 credit, including a group lift that generated 10.72 points. Skating to "Somewhere Only We Know," the 2025 World bronze medalists scored more than nine points on four elements. This is the Haydenettes’ seventh total Challenger Series medal, and they will look to continue their 2026 medal streak at the U.S. Synchronized Skating International Classic.
Miami University’s Performance
Miami University made their international season debut at the Britannia Cup, putting out a clean short program to Jon Batiste’s "What A Wonderful World." They posted a score of 69.07 points for fifth place in the segment, with their traveling element and synchronized spin both earning Level 4s. In the free skate, the team debuted their program to "Le Freak" by CHIC, scoring 133.35 and bringing their total score to 202.42. They earned five Level 4 marks, including 10.40 points on the group lift. Miami University will head to Poland next for the Hevelius Cup, where they will look to improve on their performance.
Teams Elite Junior’s Performance
Teams Elite junior secured their first win of 2026 with a score of 135.35, more than 10 points above second-place finishers, Finland’s Dream Edges. The team scored 71.85 points and placed second in the short program, with a fall in the no hold element keeping them from winning the segment. Skating to Whitney Houston’s iconic "I Will Always Love You," they earned Level 4s on five of their six leveled elements. In the free skate, Teams Elite junior brought out their boldness in a Carmen program that received the highest component score of the competition. They delivered seven Level 4 elements, their strongest being the intersection, which earned them 10.50 points, the highest-scored element of any team in the free skate.
Skyliners Junior’s Performance
Skyliners junior, six-time World Junior medalists, headed into the free skate in third place, after two falls in the move element and no hold element brought down their technical score. Their gangster-themed short program featured five Level 4 elements, including an intersection that produced 9.75 points. In the free skate, the team scored 123.44 points to take second in the segment and third overall with 189.88 points. Despite a fall on the synchronized spin, the seven-time U.S. junior champions earned seven Level 4s. This is Skyliners junior’s seventh Challenger Series medal, and they will also appear next at the U.S. Synchronized Skating International Classic.
Conclusion and Upcoming Events
The 2026 Challenger Series Synchronized Skating continues on January 22 with the Lumiere Cup. The Haydenettes and Teams Elite junior will look to continue their success at the U.S. Synchronized Skating International Classic, while Miami University heads to Poland for the Hevelius Cup. For full results, streaming information, bios, and more, visit the 2026 Challenger Series Synchronized Skating Competition Central. The upcoming events will provide more opportunities for the teams to showcase their skills and compete against top-notch opponents, and fans can expect thrilling performances and intense competition.
