Lead
The U.S. Figure Skating Championships, held Jan. 7–10, 2026, in St. Louis, are the final domestic qualifier for the Milan‑Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and will determine most U.S. entries. Midway through the event, reigning world champion Ilia Malinin delivered a commanding short program that all but assures him a spot. Record scores in the women’s short program and tight battles across men’s, pairs and ice dance have made selection unpredictable for several berths. The full Olympic roster will be announced Sunday at 2 p.m. ET.
Key Takeaways
- Ilia Malinin posted a dominant men’s short program score of 115.10 on Jan. 8, leading by 25 points over Tomoki Hiwatashi (89.26).
- Jason Brown, 31, sits third in the men’s short program with 88.49 and is vying for his third Olympic team berth.
- Maxim Naumov scored 85.72 after an emotional skate; he remains a contender for a men’s team spot amid personal loss.
- Amber Glenn set a U.S. Championships women’s short program record with 83.05, including a clean triple Axel.
- Alysa Liu (81.11) and Isabeau Levito (75.75) follow Glenn, leaving three likely Olympic women’s spots contingent on Saturday’s free skate.
- Ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates lead with a season‑best 91.70 and are favorites for both a national title and an Olympic berth.
- Pairs contenders face citizenship timing issues: Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov await expedited naturalization news that could affect team selection.
Background
The U.S. Figure Skating Championships serve as the national title meet and, in Olympic years, the final domestic selection event for the Olympic team. The 2026 Winter Games (Milan‑Cortina) require U.S. Figure Skating to name athletes after this weekend’s competition; the federation has traditionally used championship results alongside an athlete’s international record to finalize selections. For singles, pairs and ice dance, performances here will be weighed heavily, especially when multiple athletes have recent, comparable scores.
American men’s skating has seen a rapid technical escalation driven by Ilia Malinin, who became the first to land the quadruple axel in competition and has been unbeaten at major events since 2023. That technical edge has raised the stakes for U.S. teammates who must balance high‑value jumping content with clean execution. Women’s competition has similarly intensified: younger skaters returning from earlier retirements and established contenders are pushing technical lines and innovative choreography.
Main Event
On Thursday, Jan. 8, Malinin opened the men’s short with a quadruple flip and a quadruple lutz–triple toe combination for 115.10 points, creating a large cushion over the field. Tomoki Hiwatashi delivered a crowd‑pleasing short (89.26) that included a slightly under‑rotated quad toe, and he credited arena energy for his performance. Jason Brown, performing a reimagined Riverdance short program, earned 88.49 and received a standing ovation after finishing with a cartwheel exit from a combination spin.
Maxim Naumov skated a Chopin program that earned 85.72 and was visibly emotional afterward, holding a childhood photo of his parents in the kiss‑and‑cry area; his parents died in a 2025 plane crash that claimed 28 members of the U.S. figure skating community. Naumov said resilience guided his season as he seeks an Olympic berth. Andrew Torgashev, in fifth with 84.99 after a short‑program fall, remains in contention if he can recover in the free skate.
In the women’s short on Jan. 7, Amber Glenn set a U.S. Championships record short program score of 83.05, landing a high‑scoring triple Axel and receiving sustained crowd applause. Alysa Liu followed with 81.11 after a clean triple lutz–triple loop and a strong performance quality, and Isabeau Levito posted a personal best of 75.75. If those three women skate clean free programs, they are the likeliest nominees for the three Olympic women’s slots.
Ice dance leaders Madison Chock and Evan Bates scored a season‑best 91.70 on a Lenny Kravitz medley and are positioned to claim another U.S. title and an Olympic spot. Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik (85.98) and Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko (83.29) sit behind them, with both teams eligible for selection. In pairs, Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov lead but face uncertainty until Efimova’s expedited U.S. naturalization is confirmed ahead of the Sunday announcement.
Analysis & Implications
Malinin’s technical superiority, particularly his quad axel and consistent quad combinations, shifts the U.S. men’s strategy toward prioritizing athletes who can execute high‑base‑value elements under pressure. His near‑guaranteed spot frees selectors to weigh Olympic team balance—experience versus peak scoring potential—for the remaining two men’s slots. That balance favors seasoned competitors like Jason Brown but leaves room for younger jump‑focused skaters if they post stronger free skates.
Women’s selection appears more straightforward if the top three maintain clean free skates, but the margin for error is slim: Glenn’s record short program raises expectations, while Liu’s return from retirement demonstrates how quickly competitive dynamics can change. U.S. Figure Skating must weigh recent national results against international readiness, especially for athletes who have fewer recent Grand Prix or world championship showings.
Pairs selection is the most administratively fraught area because of citizenship rules. Even top U.S.‑trained teams can be ineligible without completed naturalization, which could open Olympic slots to other teams despite placement. That procedural uncertainty can alter team composition independent of on‑ice ranking and will be a focus of selectors and lawyers alike until the Sunday announcement.
Comparison & Data
| Event | 1st (Short) | 2nd (Short) | 3rd (Short) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Men | Ilia Malinin — 115.10 | Tomoki Hiwatashi — 89.26 | Jason Brown — 88.49 |
| Women | Amber Glenn — 83.05 | Alysa Liu — 81.11 | Isabeau Levito — 75.75 |
| Ice Dance | Chock/Bates — 91.70 | Zingas/Kolesnik — 85.98 | Carreira/Ponomarenko — 83.29 |
The table above shows short‑program standings and scores through the midweek sessions. These short‑program numbers indicate technical and component strengths but do not guarantee final placements: the free skate/free dance, with higher total base and component potential, often reshuffles podium order. Selectors typically consider combined championship scores and season‑long international results when finalizing Olympic nominations.
Reactions & Quotes
Skaters, coaches and fans reacted in the arena and online to both high‑risk technical content and emotionally charged performances. The crowd response has been a recurring theme for several competitors who cited arena energy as a performance catalyst.
“I hope they enjoy it as much as I do.”
Tomoki Hiwatashi
Hiwatashi attributed his spirited short to audience support after a program that included a near‑quad toe. The crowd’s encouragement was similarly noted by Amber Glenn and Jason Brown following their high‑impact short programs.
“Every time I perform this program, it’s truly like a love note to the audience.”
Jason Brown
Brown described his Riverdance short as an emotional connection with spectators that helps his consistency. Madison Chock and Evan Bates emphasized presence and enjoyment as factors in their season‑best rhythm dance.
“We felt like this was a great skate and a stepping stone toward Milan.”
Madison Chock
Unconfirmed
- Final Olympic team composition beyond Ilia Malinin is not official until the federation’s Sunday announcement.
- Alisa Efimova’s expedited U.S. citizenship approval remains pending and could affect pairs nominations.
- Selectors may factor post‑championship medical or disciplinary developments into the final roster, which are not publicly disclosed at this time.
Bottom Line
After midweek short programs in St. Louis, Ilia Malinin appears effectively certain to make the U.S. men’s Olympic team because of his large short‑program margin and season record. Other U.S. slots across men’s, women’s, pairs and ice dance remain competitive and, in pairs, potentially contingent on administrative decisions such as citizenship approvals.
The championships have underscored a sport in technical evolution and emotional complexity: landmark elements like Malinin’s quads, record short scores in the women’s field, and personal stories such as Maxim Naumov’s resilience shape both team composition and public interest ahead of Milan‑Cortina 2026. Fans and selectors should expect final adjustments after the free skates and the federation’s Sunday announcement at 2 p.m. ET.
Sources
- NPR (news report)
- The Associated Press (photographic coverage and agency reporting)
- U.S. Figure Skating (official federation information and selection policies)