Key Takeaways
- The 2026 U.S. figure skating team for the Winter Olympics has been announced, featuring 16 skaters, the most for the Games.
- Ilia Malinin, known as the "Quad God," is the gold medal favorite in the men’s singles event.
- The women’s team consists of Alysa Liu, Amber Glenn, and Isabeau Levito, forming the best women’s team for the U.S. in nearly 25 years.
- Other notable skaters include Andrew Torgashev, Maxim Naumov, Madison Chock, and Evan Bates, who are all making their Olympic debuts or returning to the Games with high expectations.
Introduction to the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Team
The 2026 U.S. figure skating championships have come to a close, and the team that will represent the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics has been announced. The team consists of 16 skaters, the most for the Games, and features a mix of experienced and new athletes. The announcement comes after four days of intense competition, and the team is headlined by the 21-year-old "Quad God" Ilia Malinin, who is the gold medal favorite in the men’s singles event.
Meet the Men’s Singles Skaters
Ilia Malinin is arguably the best skater on the planet, with an elite arsenal that includes the quadruple Axel, which has earned him the nickname "Quad God." He has dominated the competition, winning every event he’s been in since December 2023, including two World Championships. Malinin will be the favorite to win America’s second straight gold in men’s singles after Nathan Chen’s victory in 2022. Other notable men’s singles skaters include Andrew Torgashev, who has persevered through a tough season to earn his first Olympic spot, and Maxim Naumov, who has shown resilience in the face of tragedy, including the loss of his parents in a plane crash in 2025.
The Women’s Singles Team
The women’s singles team consists of Alysa Liu, Amber Glenn, and Isabeau Levito, forming the best women’s team for the U.S. in nearly 25 years. Alysa Liu, who retired in 2022 and returned to competition in 2024, has been marvelous since her comeback, winning the 2025 world championship and capping off the year by winning the Grand Prix final. Amber Glenn, who has had a sensational season, has left no doubt that she will make her first Olympics, while Isabeau Levito has defined beauty and grace on the ice, propelling her to a third-place finish in 2026. The Olympics will be somewhat of a homecoming for Levito, whose mom is from Italy and has family in Milan.
Ice Dance and Pairs
Madison Chock and Evan Bates, who have been dominant in ice dance, return to the Olympics with their eyes set on reaching the podium for the first time in their discipline. They’ve accomplished nearly everything else, winning nearly every event they’ve competed in since 2022, including five straight U.S. championships, three world championships, and three Grand Prix final titles. This will also be the first Olympics for them as a married couple, having tied the knot in 2024. Ellie Kam and Daniel O’Shea, who began their partnership in 2022, have landed their first Olympic appearance, with a second-place finish at the 2026 U.S. championships giving them a great boost to secure the Olympic spot.
Conclusion
The 2026 U.S. figure skating team is a talented and diverse group of athletes, with a mix of experienced and new skaters. With the Olympics just around the corner, the team is ready to take on the best of the world and bring home the gold. With Ilia Malinin leading the charge, the U.S. team is poised to make a strong showing in the men’s singles event, while the women’s team, consisting of Alysa Liu, Amber Glenn, and Isabeau Levito, is the best the U.S. has seen in nearly 25 years. The ice dance and pairs teams, including Madison Chock and Evan Bates, and Ellie Kam and Daniel O’Shea, are also ready to make their mark on the Olympic stage.