Lead
On Jan. 9, 2026 in St. Louis, Amber Glenn delivered a commanding free skate to claim her third consecutive U.S. Figure Skating national title, finishing with 233.55 points. Alysa Liu took silver with 228.91 points and Isabeau Levito earned bronze at 224.45, likely completing the trio headed to the Milan Cortina Olympics. The packed Enterprise Center witnessed both technical risk and emotional release as Glenn landed the opening triple axel that anchored her victory. The official U.S. Olympic team announcement is due Sunday.
Key Takeaways
- Amber Glenn won her third straight U.S. national title on Jan. 9, 2026 in St. Louis with a total score of 233.55 points.
- Alysa Liu placed second with 228.91 points and Isabeau Levito third with 224.45, figures that likely determine three U.S. women’s Olympic berths.
- Glenn landed the opening triple axel—a 3½-revolution jump—an element none of the other medal contenders attempted cleanly.
- Pairs champions Alisha Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov defended their title with 207.71 points; runners-up Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea scored 197.12.
- Efimova’s U.S. citizenship remains unresolved ahead of Sunday’s team announcement; if approved, the pair could occupy one of two U.S. pairs slots at the Olympics.
- Emily Chan and Spencer Howe rallied from eighth to finish fourth in pairs with 186.52 points, showing depth in the U.S. field despite limited Olympic quota spots.
Background
The U.S. Figure Skating Championships serve both as the national title event and a major selection benchmark for the Winter Olympics, with the federation required to submit its roster ahead of the Games. The Americans have qualified three women’s entries and two pairs entries for Milan Cortina, raising the stakes for competitors who must balance seasonal form, technical content and international selection rules. Amber Glenn, 26 and a veteran on the domestic circuit, has made the triple axel a recurring weapon; that jump has become a defining element of her competitive identity.
Outside of the women’s event, U.S. pairs face an additional complication: citizenship eligibility. Alisha Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov repeated as national champions, but Efimova—born in Finland and 26 years old—has a complex international history, having skated for other federations in earlier seasons. While Mitrofanov is a U.S. citizen, Efimova currently holds a green card but not a U.S. passport, triggering a time-sensitive push by their training club and U.S. senators to expedite naturalization before the Olympic roster deadline.
Main Event
The women’s competition culminated with Levito skating early among the leading contenders and producing a season-best free skate that briefly put her in front. Levito, 18, combined balletic lines and consistent jumps to post 224.45 points and clinch bronze. Alysa Liu followed with a new Lady Gaga–based free program and strong execution, scoring 228.91 to move into second. Liu remained in the arena afterward—hair halo dyed and visibly supportive—applauding fellow competitors during the final moments.
Amber Glenn bore the heaviest pressure last, and her program opened with the triple axel that set the tone. From that jump through a composed mid-section and a clean finish, Glenn connected with the audience and judges, earning a final total of 233.55 and a standing ovation. She and coach Damon Allen embraced in the kiss-and-cry as the scoreboard confirmed her victory, underscoring both the technical success and the emotional weight of a three-peat—the first since Michelle Kwan’s 2005 streak.
In pairs, Efimova and Mitrofanov opened with a powerful triple twist and paid tribute to Gordeeva and Grinkov in program theme and music choice, but their free skate included errors. A fall on a double axel and several troubled elements—including a near-miss where Efimova’s skate blade came close to Mitrofanov’s head—marred parts of the performance, yet their technical base and final sequence produced a winning 207.71. Kam and O’Shea secured second with 197.12, while McBeath and Parkman finished third but remain ineligible for Olympic selection due to Parkman’s citizenship status.
Analysis & Implications
Glenn’s third straight national title consolidates her position as the U.S. women’s leader in experience and consistency, particularly under pressure. Her ability to open with a triple axel creates a scoring ceiling that rivals must either match technically or outscore with superior component marks. For the U.S., fielding Glenn, Liu and Levito to Milan Cortina would present a blend of experience (Glenn), international championship success (Liu) and youthful upside (Levito) that could revive medal prospects—the U.S. hasn’t medaled in women’s Olympic figure skating since 2006.
The pairs situation highlights a recurring selection tension when technical results and eligibility rules collide. Even as Efimova and Mitrofanov showed they remain the top American pair on paper, their Olympic participation hinges on an administrative outcome outside the ice arena: Efimova’s passport. The federation faces a binary choice if citizenship relief is denied—send Kam/O’Shea and a second team that meets both score and eligibility criteria, or petition on discretionary grounds if allowed under selection policy.
From a broader perspective, the results reflect the U.S. program’s depth but also structural limits imposed by Olympic quota caps. Three women’s spots reward internal competition and raise internal stakes, yet two pairs slots leave high-performing teams at risk of omission for non-performance reasons. Internationally, the American women’s trio—if finalized—could shift short program strategies by opponents who must now account for Glenn’s triple axel as a points swing.
Comparison & Data
| Event | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women (Total) | Amber Glenn — 233.55 | Alysa Liu — 228.91 | Isabeau Levito — 224.45 |
| Pairs (Total) | Efimova/Mitrofanov — 207.71 | Kam/O’Shea — 197.12 | McBeath/Parkman — (placement) |
The table summarizes final scores for podium positions in both disciplines. Glenn’s margin over Liu was 4.64 points, a clear but not overwhelming lead that reflects both technical advantage and component scoring. In pairs, the champions led the second-place team by 10.59 points, a more decisive gap despite performance errors. Those different margins suggest the women’s podium could still be competitive internationally, while the American pairs hierarchy appears more established if eligibility permits Olympic entry.
Reactions & Quotes
Fans and peers reacted in real time in St. Louis; teammates and rivals gathered in the kiss-and-cry to acknowledge performances and the likely Olympic trio.
“She trains so hard, and to skate a clean program, it’s so deserving.”
Alysa Liu (fellow competitor)
Liu’s remark came while she remained in the arena after her own performance, visually supportive as Glenn skated last. The sentiment framed the moment as one of mutual respect among top American skaters and underscored the competitive camaraderie between medalists.
“I felt like I was going to throw up. My stomach has been bothering me all day. Woof. Fake it ’till you make it.”
Amber Glenn (champion)
Glenn gave this account of her pre-performance nerves in the kiss-and-cry, noting that years of experience helped her manage pressure and execute the technical elements that secured the title.
“We’re doing everything we can to try to clear the administrative hurdles so we can represent the U.S. at the Games.”
Skating Club of Boston representative (training club)
The club’s statement referenced ongoing efforts with senators and federation officials to expedite Efimova’s citizenship process, emphasizing the uncommon interplay of politics and sport in Olympic eligibility matters.
Unconfirmed
- Whether Alisha Efimova will receive U.S. citizenship or a passport before Sunday’s Olympic roster deadline remains unresolved.
- How U.S. Figure Skating will fill a potential second pairs slot—by placement, discretionary selection, or other criteria—has not been publicly finalized.
- Any last-minute appeals to the International Olympic Committee or national authorities to waive waiting periods are possible but not confirmed.
Bottom Line
Amber Glenn’s victory on Jan. 9, 2026 cements her domestic dominance and positions the United States to send a varied and potentially medal-capable women’s team to Milan Cortina. Technical risk-taking—most visibly Glenn’s triple axel—will shape both selection decisions and short-program strategies for the Olympics.
In pairs, competitive results favored Efimova and Mitrofanov, but their Olympic fate now depends on administrative rulings beyond the ice. U.S. Figure Skating’s decisions this weekend, and any intervening citizenship developments, will determine whether performance or paperwork defines the final U.S. delegation.