Fri Feb 06 13:50:00 UTC 2026: ### US Figure Skating Team Enters Olympics as Favorites, Aiming for Broader Cultural Impact
The Story:
The United States figure skating team is poised to defend its Olympic title at the Milano Cortina Olympics, entering the team event as strong favorites. This year’s team is characterized by its exceptional depth, boasting reigning world champions such as Ilia Malinin, Alysa Liu, and ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates, along with three-time national champion Amber Glenn and world silver medalist Isabeau Levito. More than just aiming for medals, this team seeks to elevate figure skating into the mainstream cultural consciousness, drawing comparisons to the 1992 US men’s basketball “Dream Team.”
The team event, commencing on Friday, presents a strategic challenge, testing the collective strength of the competing nations across men’s singles, women’s singles, pairs, and ice dance. The US team’s composition, which encompasses technical prowess, artistic evolution, and a focus on athlete autonomy, represents the modern reality of the sport and positions them as potential catalysts for change.
Key Points:
* The United States is the defending champion in the figure skating team event, having been awarded gold after the Beijing 2022 controversy.
* The team includes reigning world champions Ilia Malinin, Alysa Liu, and ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates, alongside Amber Glenn and Isabeau Levito.
* Ilia Malinin, nicknamed “Quad God,” is the only skater to have landed a quadruple Axel in competition.
* Alysa Liu returned to the sport after a hiatus and is now focused on artistic expression over results.
* Amber Glenn is the first openly queer woman to land a triple Axel in competition and is seen as a role model for representation.
* Madison Chock and Evan Bates, a married couple, are competing in their fourth Olympics together.
Key Takeaways:
* The US figure skating team is exceptionally strong due to its depth and individual talent.
* This team aims to push figure skating beyond its traditional audience and into the mainstream.
* The athletes embody the modern reality of figure skating: technical advancement, artistic development, cultural evolution and athlete independence.
* Individual stories within the team represent different facets of modern skating.
* The success of the team event will depend on depth, consistency, and strategic decisions regarding energy conservation for individual events.
First Piper 