A stunning lineup of generational talent was on display in Milano Cortina, Italy as the U.S. Women’s Olympic Figure Skating Team secured three gold medals. Affectionately nicknamed “the Blade Angels,” figure skaters Alysa Liu, Amber Glenn and Isabeau Levito represented Team USA in a record-breaking victory. Competing in both team and individual events, these three women exhibited a trifecta of resilience, athleticism and teamwork.
The star of the trio, Liu, entered her second Olympic Games striving to prioritize her artistic expression and personal fulfillment. After helping Team USA win a bronze medal at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, Liu retired at 16, the age when many elite skaters are beginning to reach the peak of their career.
After two years away from the sport, Liu made the decision to pick up her skates again- but on her own terms. Now choosing her own schedule, program music, training style and costumes, Liu did the unthinkable after her time away by becoming an Olympic champion within two years. Her story is a testament to resilience and self-advocacy in the athletic community.
Liu’s first performance in Milano Cortina was her short program in the Figure Skating Team Event- a relatively new segment of the Olympics that was introduced in 2014. It combines all four figure skating disciplines, such as men’s and women’s singles, pairs and ice dance. The performances are scored on a 10 point scale, with first place receiving 10 points. Liu won second place for her short program set to the song “Promise” by Laufey on Feb. 6 and contributed nine points towards the U.S Figure Skating Team. Team USA chose Glenn to represent the team in the Women’s free skate, and her third place finish on Feb. 8 added eight points to the team score. The team finished with a cumulative score of 69 points, marking the second consecutive gold medal in the event.
On Feb. 17 in the individual skates, Liu achieved a personal best score of 76.59 in her short program, a technically demanding performance of two minutes and 40 seconds. Her free skate, however, was the alluring routine that moved her from third place to first. With an electric and joyful program set to “MacArthur Park” by Donna Summer, Liu achieved a high score by successfully executing technically challenging jumps, including her flawless opening triple axel.
Liu’s first place finish with a cumulative score of 226.79 earned her a gold medal on Feb. 19, marking the first U.S. Women’s Figure Skating gold since 2002.
Glenn, a first time Olympian, also made incredible contributions to Team USA. Beyond her crucial role in securing gold in the team event, Glenn exhibited an inspiring level of determination that propelled her to a fifth place overall finish. In her short program, Glenn landed a triple axel, but this was undermined by a failed triple loop jump. Rather than allow the disappointment of a 13th place finish, she made a comeback with her near-flawless free skate, moving her up to fifth place.
Glenn’s ability to overcome her initial setback reflects her skating career as a whole. After initially winning the U.S. junior national championship title in 2014, Glenn has worked for years to reach the top of her game. After struggling with technical consistency and mental health, Glenn’s Olympic debut at age 26 solidified her role as a deserving athlete who fought hard for their success.
In addition to being the oldest singles female figure skater on Team USA in 98 years, Glenn is the first openly queer woman to compete in the U.S. Women’s Singles Figure Skating Team. Her success is shared with the fanbase she has built through mental health and LGBTQ+ advocacy.
Completing the trio, Levito has been cited as a fulfillment of destiny. Whether it’s considered fate or coincidence, the youngest skater on Team USA had the opportunity to perform in Milano Cortina, where her mother emigrated from and her extended family still live. Although Levito scored 12th overall due to a fall during her triple flip jump, she still described the experience as a “fantasy.”
The achievements of “The Blade Angels” at this year’s Winter Olympics was a triumphant display of American figure skating talent. The gold medals won by Glenn and Liu contributed to the total of 12 gold medals won by the U.S. Figure Skating Team, marking a record high performance.
