{"id":13814,"date":"2026-01-10T04:06:26","date_gmt":"2026-01-10T04:06:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/us-figure-skating-olympic-team-2026\/"},"modified":"2026-01-10T04:06:26","modified_gmt":"2026-01-10T04:06:26","slug":"us-figure-skating-olympic-team-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/us-figure-skating-olympic-team-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"U.S. Figure Skating Championships Decide 2026 Olympic Team"},"content":{"rendered":"<article>\n<h2>Lead<\/h2>\n<p>The U.S. Figure Skating Championships, held Jan. 7\u201310, 2026, in St. Louis, are the final domestic qualifier for the Milan\u2011Cortina 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&#8217;s short program and tight battles across men\u2019s, pairs and ice dance have made selection unpredictable for several berths. The full Olympic roster will be announced Sunday at 2 p.m. ET.<\/p>\n<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Ilia Malinin posted a dominant men\u2019s short program score of 115.10 on Jan. 8, leading by 25 points over Tomoki Hiwatashi (89.26).<\/li>\n<li>Jason Brown, 31, sits third in the men\u2019s short program with 88.49 and is vying for his third Olympic team berth.<\/li>\n<li>Maxim Naumov scored 85.72 after an emotional skate; he remains a contender for a men\u2019s team spot amid personal loss.<\/li>\n<li>Amber Glenn set a U.S. Championships women\u2019s short program record with 83.05, including a clean triple Axel.<\/li>\n<li>Alysa Liu (81.11) and Isabeau Levito (75.75) follow Glenn, leaving three likely Olympic women\u2019s spots contingent on Saturday\u2019s free skate.<\/li>\n<li>Ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates lead with a season\u2011best 91.70 and are favorites for both a national title and an Olympic berth.<\/li>\n<li>Pairs contenders face citizenship timing issues: Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov await expedited naturalization news that could affect team selection.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Background<\/h2>\n<p>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\u2011Cortina) require U.S. Figure Skating to name athletes after this weekend\u2019s competition; the federation has traditionally used championship results alongside an athlete\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<p>American men\u2019s 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\u2011value jumping content with clean execution. Women\u2019s competition has similarly intensified: younger skaters returning from earlier retirements and established contenders are pushing technical lines and innovative choreography.<\/p>\n<h2>Main Event<\/h2>\n<p>On Thursday, Jan. 8, Malinin opened the men\u2019s short with a quadruple flip and a quadruple lutz\u2013triple toe combination for 115.10 points, creating a large cushion over the field. Tomoki Hiwatashi delivered a crowd\u2011pleasing short (89.26) that included a slightly under\u2011rotated 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.<\/p>\n<p>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\u2011and\u2011cry 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\u2011program fall, remains in contention if he can recover in the free skate.<\/p>\n<p>In the women\u2019s short on Jan. 7, Amber Glenn set a U.S. Championships record short program score of 83.05, landing a high\u2011scoring triple Axel and receiving sustained crowd applause. Alysa Liu followed with 81.11 after a clean triple lutz\u2013triple 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\u2019s slots.<\/p>\n<p>Ice dance leaders Madison Chock and Evan Bates scored a season\u2011best 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\u2019s expedited U.S. naturalization is confirmed ahead of the Sunday announcement.<\/p>\n<h2>Analysis &#038; Implications<\/h2>\n<p>Malinin\u2019s technical superiority, particularly his quad axel and consistent quad combinations, shifts the U.S. men\u2019s strategy toward prioritizing athletes who can execute high\u2011base\u2011value elements under pressure. His near\u2011guaranteed spot frees selectors to weigh Olympic team balance\u2014experience versus peak scoring potential\u2014for the remaining two men\u2019s slots. That balance favors seasoned competitors like Jason Brown but leaves room for younger jump\u2011focused skaters if they post stronger free skates.<\/p>\n<p>Women\u2019s selection appears more straightforward if the top three maintain clean free skates, but the margin for error is slim: Glenn\u2019s record short program raises expectations, while Liu\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<p>Pairs selection is the most administratively fraught area because of citizenship rules. Even top U.S.\u2011trained 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\u2011ice ranking and will be a focus of selectors and lawyers alike until the Sunday announcement.<\/p>\n<h2>Comparison &#038; Data<\/h2>\n<figure>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Event<\/th>\n<th>1st (Short)<\/th>\n<th>2nd (Short)<\/th>\n<th>3rd (Short)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Men<\/td>\n<td>Ilia Malinin \u2014 115.10<\/td>\n<td>Tomoki Hiwatashi \u2014 89.26<\/td>\n<td>Jason Brown \u2014 88.49<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Women<\/td>\n<td>Amber Glenn \u2014 83.05<\/td>\n<td>Alysa Liu \u2014 81.11<\/td>\n<td>Isabeau Levito \u2014 75.75<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Ice Dance<\/td>\n<td>Chock\/Bates \u2014 91.70<\/td>\n<td>Zingas\/Kolesnik \u2014 85.98<\/td>\n<td>Carreira\/Ponomarenko \u2014 83.29<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n<p>The table above shows short\u2011program standings and scores through the midweek sessions. These short\u2011program 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\u2011long international results when finalizing Olympic nominations.<\/p>\n<h2>Reactions &#038; Quotes<\/h2>\n<p>Skaters, coaches and fans reacted in the arena and online to both high\u2011risk 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.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;I hope they enjoy it as much as I do.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>Tomoki Hiwatashi<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Hiwatashi attributed his spirited short to audience support after a program that included a near\u2011quad toe. The crowd\u2019s encouragement was similarly noted by Amber Glenn and Jason Brown following their high\u2011impact short programs.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;Every time I perform this program, it&#8217;s truly like a love note to the audience.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>Jason Brown<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>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\u2011best rhythm dance.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;We felt like this was a great skate and a stepping stone toward Milan.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>Madison Chock<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2>\n<aside>\n<details>\n<summary>Explainer: Quadruple Axel, Pewter Medals and Selection Criteria<\/summary>\n<p>The quadruple axel is a forward\u2011takeoff jump that requires four and a half rotations in the air and has been achieved in competition only in recent years; landing it yields very high technical value. A &#8220;pewter&#8221; medal refers to fourth place at U.S. Figure Skating Championships, a tradition in U.S. nationals. For Olympic selection, U.S. Figure Skating typically weighs nationals heavily but also considers international results, season\u2011long consistency, technical content and fitness; exceptions or committee discretion can apply in complex eligibility cases.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/aside>\n<\/h2>\n<h2>Unconfirmed<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Final Olympic team composition beyond Ilia Malinin is not official until the federation\u2019s Sunday announcement.<\/li>\n<li>Alisa Efimova\u2019s expedited U.S. citizenship approval remains pending and could affect pairs nominations.<\/li>\n<li>Selectors may factor post\u2011championship medical or disciplinary developments into the final roster, which are not publicly disclosed at this time.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Bottom Line<\/h2>\n<p>After midweek short programs in St. Louis, Ilia Malinin appears effectively certain to make the U.S. men\u2019s Olympic team because of his large short\u2011program margin and season record. Other U.S. slots across men\u2019s, women\u2019s, pairs and ice dance remain competitive and, in pairs, potentially contingent on administrative decisions such as citizenship approvals.<\/p>\n<p>The championships have underscored a sport in technical evolution and emotional complexity: landmark elements like Malinin\u2019s quads, record short scores in the women\u2019s field, and personal stories such as Maxim Naumov\u2019s resilience shape both team composition and public interest ahead of Milan\u2011Cortina 2026. Fans and selectors should expect final adjustments after the free skates and the federation\u2019s Sunday announcement at 2 p.m. ET.<\/p>\n<h2>Sources<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/01\/09\/nx-s1-5671286\/figure-skating-championships\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NPR<\/a> (news report)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Associated Press<\/a> (photographic coverage and agency reporting)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usfigureskating.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">U.S. Figure Skating<\/a> (official federation information and selection policies)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lead The U.S. Figure Skating Championships, held Jan. 7\u201310, 2026, in St. Louis, are the final domestic qualifier for the Milan\u2011Cortina 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 &#8230; <a title=\"U.S. Figure Skating Championships Decide 2026 Olympic Team\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/us-figure-skating-olympic-team-2026\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about U.S. Figure Skating Championships Decide 2026 Olympic Team\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13809,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_title":"U.S. Figure Skating Championships Decide 2026 Olympic Team \u2013 Insight Sports","rank_math_description":"At the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in St. Louis, Ilia Malinin cruised toward a 2026 Olympic spot while record short scores and citizenship questions leave other berths undecided.","rank_math_focus_keyword":"Ilia Malinin,U.S. Figure Skating,Olympics 2026,Amber Glenn,Alysa Liu","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13814","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-top-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13814","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13814"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13814\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13809"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13814"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13814"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13814"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}