Meet the US figure skating Olympic team, headlined by Ilia Malinin
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Meet the US figure skating Olympic team, headlined by Ilia Malinin
Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY January 12, 2026 at 3:26 AM
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ST. LOUIS â U.S. Figure Skating is unveiling the figure skaters who will represent the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
The team announcement is coming after four days of the 2026 U.S. figure skating championships and is headlined by the 21-year-old âQuad Godâ Ilia Malinin, the gold medal favorite in Milano. Amber Glenn, Alysa Liu and Isabeau Levito secured the three women's spot, forming the best women's team for the U.S. in nearly 25 years.
In total, the U.S. is sending 16 skaters to the Olympics, the most for the Games. Here is a breakdown of who will represent the U.S. in February. We'll be updating this story as skaters are named to the team.
Ilia Malinin -
Age: 21
Height: 5-foot-8
Hometown: Vienna, Virginia
Olympic experience: First
Event: Menâs single
What to know: The âQuad Godâ is ready to shine. Malinin is arguably the best skater on the planet, fully equipped with an elite arsenal others arenât able to match, headlined by the quadruple Axel that earned him the nickname. He has dominated the competition, winning every event heâs been in since December 2023, including two World Championships. He will be the favorite to win America its second straight gold in menâs after Nathan Chen did in 2022.
Watch our exclusive conversation with Ilia Malinin in the debut episode of our Milan Magic Olympics podcast. Subscribe and listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon
Andrew Torgashev -
Age: 24
Height: 5-7
Hometown: Coral Springs, Florida
Olympic experience: First
Event: Menâs singles
What to know: Itâs been quite the season for Torgashev, but a strong finish gets him his first Olympic Games. After winning silver at the 2025 U.S. championship, he endured some bumps, including at the World Championships. Despite the tough times, Torgashev preserved and another U.S. silver medal helped clinch a spot. Torgashev is half-Ukranian, and he has family in Ukraine.
Maxim Naumov -
Age: 24
Height: 5-6
Hometown: Norwood, Massachusetts
Olympic experience: First
Event: Menâs singles
What to know: Itâs a year of resilience for Naumov, as his parents were among the victims in the January 2025 plane crash near Washington, D.C. that devastated the skating community. He navigated tragedy and won his first senior event in the 2025 Ice Challenge, then had the great, emotional outing at the 2026 U.S. Championships that earned him a bronze. The strong finish punctuated a story that captured the heart.
Emilia Nemirovsky skates in the women's short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Enterprise Center on Jan. 7, 2026 in St. Louis, Missouri.
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Emilia Nemirovsky skates in the women's short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Enterprise Center on Jan. 7, 2026 in St. Louis, Missouri.
">Emilia Nemirovsky skates in the women's short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Enterprise Center on Jan. 7, 2026 in St. Louis, Missouri.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/jcKPL3cvM61MVReYue4fzA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/295f8312f081781b593766eadadd8592 class=caas-img>Logan Higase-Chen skates in the women's short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Enterprise Center on Jan. 7, 2026 in St. Louis, Missouri.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/U4zOZ1bIwUm9QN7_GZBYIA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04OTc-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/527b3e33a4d47f68305a954e3f3d1a15 class=caas-img data-headline="Figure skaters compete to represent the US in Milano Cortina" data-caption="
Logan Higase-Chen skates in the women's short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Enterprise Center on Jan. 7, 2026 in St. Louis, Missouri.
">Logan Higase-Chen skates in the women's short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Enterprise Center on Jan. 7, 2026 in St. Louis, Missouri.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/U4zOZ1bIwUm9QN7_GZBYIA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04OTc-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/527b3e33a4d47f68305a954e3f3d1a15 class=caas-img>Anabel Wallace performs in the women's short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Enterprise Center on Jan. 7, 2026 in St. Louis, Missouri.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/duACEDhcFonGEFKJF.URXg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/f50bc707c044961b38efd6aa19863774 class=caas-img data-headline="Figure skaters compete to represent the US in Milano Cortina" data-caption="
Anabel Wallace performs in the women's short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Enterprise Center on Jan. 7, 2026 in St. Louis, Missouri.
">Anabel Wallace performs in the women's short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Enterprise Center on Jan. 7, 2026 in St. Louis, Missouri.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/duACEDhcFonGEFKJF.URXg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/f50bc707c044961b38efd6aa19863774 class=caas-img>Katie McBeath and Daniil Parkman perform in the pairs short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Enterprise Center on Jan. 7, 2026.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/bfV.CJPciKaaQKMC9K7Vkw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xODYz/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/70d8ffc0f78df23b5290c3c5b77a11d9 class=caas-img data-headline="Figure skaters compete to represent the US in Milano Cortina" data-caption="
Katie McBeath and Daniil Parkman perform in the pairs short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Enterprise Center on Jan. 7, 2026.
">Katie McBeath and Daniil Parkman perform in the pairs short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Enterprise Center on Jan. 7, 2026.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/bfV.CJPciKaaQKMC9K7Vkw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xODYz/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/70d8ffc0f78df23b5290c3c5b77a11d9 class=caas-img>Audrey Shin and Balazs Nagy perform in the pairs short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Enterprise Center on Jan. 7, 2026.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/1RfnmgMCHKoLYdSPHM8yIA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/31f3da5b075ed3b7aed7d0554c94650c class=caas-img data-headline="Figure skaters compete to represent the US in Milano Cortina" data-caption="
Audrey Shin and Balazs Nagy perform in the pairs short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Enterprise Center on Jan. 7, 2026.
">Audrey Shin and Balazs Nagy perform in the pairs short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Enterprise Center on Jan. 7, 2026.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/1RfnmgMCHKoLYdSPHM8yIA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/31f3da5b075ed3b7aed7d0554c94650c class=caas-img>Emily Chan and Spencer Akira Howe perform in the pairs short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Enterprise Center on Jan. 7, 2026.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/inrRUy3tDrB20Zxvf.gxQg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/caaefa362d717f6615638fc06bef8576 class=caas-img data-headline="Figure skaters compete to represent the US in Milano Cortina" data-caption="
Emily Chan and Spencer Akira Howe perform in the pairs short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Enterprise Center on Jan. 7, 2026.
">Emily Chan and Spencer Akira Howe perform in the pairs short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Enterprise Center on Jan. 7, 2026.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/inrRUy3tDrB20Zxvf.gxQg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/caaefa362d717f6615638fc06bef8576 class=caas-img>Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov perform in the pairs short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Enterprise Center on Jan. 7, 2026.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/ec.ZAE0rmcPGA3cy.3wYIA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/5b48d89e51050e805eb36ec82ac137fc class=caas-img data-headline="Figure skaters compete to represent the US in Milano Cortina" data-caption="
Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov perform in the pairs short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Enterprise Center on Jan. 7, 2026.
">Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov perform in the pairs short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Enterprise Center on Jan. 7, 2026.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/ec.ZAE0rmcPGA3cy.3wYIA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/5b48d89e51050e805eb36ec82ac137fc class=caas-img>Naomi Williams and Lachlan Lewer perform in the pairs short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Enterprise Center on Jan. 7, 2026.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/R6wSpMBaQnaePFSsTDwGRQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/76f28f7534ac012b7c52406f52654db1 class=caas-img data-headline="Figure skaters compete to represent the US in Milano Cortina" data-caption="
Naomi Williams and Lachlan Lewer perform in the pairs short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Enterprise Center on Jan. 7, 2026.
">Naomi Williams and Lachlan Lewer perform in the pairs short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Enterprise Center on Jan. 7, 2026.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/R6wSpMBaQnaePFSsTDwGRQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/76f28f7534ac012b7c52406f52654db1 class=caas-img>Valentina Plazas and Maximiliano Fernandez perform in the pairs short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Enterprise Center on Jan. 7, 2026.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/lbJdKhNVmyy_UbAIzAWx3g--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/4953f8753931b9e054405872b80580b6 class=caas-img data-headline="Figure skaters compete to represent the US in Milano Cortina" data-caption="
Valentina Plazas and Maximiliano Fernandez perform in the pairs short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Enterprise Center on Jan. 7, 2026.
">Valentina Plazas and Maximiliano Fernandez perform in the pairs short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Enterprise Center on Jan. 7, 2026.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/lbJdKhNVmyy_UbAIzAWx3g--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/4953f8753931b9e054405872b80580b6 class=caas-img>Olivia Flores and Luke Wang perform in the pairs short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Enterprise Center on Jan. 7, 2026.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/_kVkBc2cdCK368fUPohOeA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/39a365544b5179a7a79761a0203ce2df class=caas-img data-headline="Figure skaters compete to represent the US in Milano Cortina" data-caption="
Olivia Flores and Luke Wang perform in the pairs short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Enterprise Center on Jan. 7, 2026.
">Olivia Flores and Luke Wang perform in the pairs short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Enterprise Center on Jan. 7, 2026.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/_kVkBc2cdCK368fUPohOeA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/39a365544b5179a7a79761a0203ce2df class=caas-img>Audrey Shin and Balazs Nagy perform in the pairs short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Enterprise Center on Jan. 7, 2026.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/6ETr025N0BlcEo8kpHvkkA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/d989d56e18941a431ff4cdfaf380fb93 class=caas-img data-headline="Figure skaters compete to represent the US in Milano Cortina" data-caption="
Audrey Shin and Balazs Nagy perform in the pairs short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Enterprise Center on Jan. 7, 2026.
">Audrey Shin and Balazs Nagy perform in the pairs short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Enterprise Center on Jan. 7, 2026.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/6ETr025N0BlcEo8kpHvkkA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/d989d56e18941a431ff4cdfaf380fb93 class=caas-img>Chelsea Liu and Ryan Bedard perform in the pairs short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Enterprise Center on Jan. 7, 2026.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/Y86.LciNhQZwNI4p3Vh0Eg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/79e4089cfb5c650fa6fa6da4626459a0 class=caas-img data-headline="Figure skaters compete to represent the US in Milano Cortina" data-caption="
Chelsea Liu and Ryan Bedard perform in the pairs short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Enterprise Center on Jan. 7, 2026.
">Chelsea Liu and Ryan Bedard perform in the pairs short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Enterprise Center on Jan. 7, 2026.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/Y86.LciNhQZwNI4p3Vh0Eg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/79e4089cfb5c650fa6fa6da4626459a0 class=caas-img>Linzy Fitzpatrick and Keyton Bearinger perform in the pairs short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Enterprise Center on Jan. 7, 2026.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/7W_LOP1I55SmYpy3IAOt.Q--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/e75f7eca37ceaffd188eb6050e75b0f6 class=caas-img data-headline="Figure skaters compete to represent the US in Milano Cortina" data-caption="
Linzy Fitzpatrick and Keyton Bearinger perform in the pairs short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Enterprise Center on Jan. 7, 2026.
">Linzy Fitzpatrick and Keyton Bearinger perform in the pairs short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Enterprise Center on Jan. 7, 2026.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/7W_LOP1I55SmYpy3IAOt.Q--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/e75f7eca37ceaffd188eb6050e75b0f6 class=caas-img>
1 / 62Figure skaters compete to represent the US in Milano CortinaElliana Peal and Ethan Peal compete during the championship free dance competition during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Enterprise Center.Alysa Liu -
Age: 20
Height: 5-2
Hometown: Oakland, California
Olympic experience: Second (2022)
Event: Womenâs singles
What to know: Back like she never left. Liu retired in 2022 and has been nothing but marvelous since returning in 2024. She made a major statement by winning the 2025 world championship and capped off the year by winning the Grand Prix final, assuring she would return to the Olympics. She had two silver medals in the last two U.S. championships. She is very creative in her programs and with her carefree attitude, Liu possess the talent to win some hardware in Milano Cortina.
Amber Glenn -
Age: 26
Height: 5-6
Hometown: Plano, Texas
Olympic experience: First
Event: Womenâs singles
What to know: After just missing out in 2022, Glenn had a sensational season that left no doubt she would make her first Olympics. A fierce and powerful skater that is among the best in technical skill, she excelled at the U.S. championships for her third consecutive title, the first woman to accomplish the feat since Michelle Kwan. She can win medals at the Games. She is a major mental health advocate and has helped change the conversations about it in figure skating.
Isabeau Levito -
Age: 18
Height: 5-1
Hometown: Mount Laurel, New Jersey
Olympic experience: First
Event: Womenâs singles
What to know: Any conversation about the third spot in the womenâs side was put to rest with a dazzling U.S. championship performance from Levito. The 2023 national champion defines beauty and grace on the ice that propelled her to a third place finish in 2026. The Olympics will be somewhat of a homecoming for her family as her mom is from Italy and she has family in Milan. She also speaks Italian and Russian.
1 / 21Alysa Liu, world champion figure skater and 2026 Olympics hopefulAlysa Liu performs during the Exhibition Program at the World Figure Skating Championships at the TD Garden on Mar. 30, 2025 in Boston.Madison Chock and Evan Bates -
Age: Chock is 33, Bates is 36
Height: Chock is 5-2, Bates is 6-1
Hometown: Chock is from Redondo Beach, California; Bates is from Ann Arbor, Michigan
Olympic experience: Fourth (2014, 2018, 2022)
Event: Ice dance
What to know: Chock and Bates have been dominant in the ice dance and return to the Olympics with their eyes set on reaching the podium for the first time in their discipline. Theyâve accomplished about everything else, winning nearly every event theyâve competed in since 2022, including five straight U.S. championships, three world championships and three Grand Prix final titles. This will also be the first Olympics for them as a married couple after they got married in 2024.
Ellie Kam and Daniel OâShea -
Age: Kam is 21, OâShea is 34
Height: Kam is 5-0, OâShea is 6-0
Hometown: They are both from Colorado Springs, Colorado
Olympic experience: First
Event: Pairs
What to know: A partnership that began in 2022 lands its first Olympic appearance. Kam and OâShea were the 2024 U.S. champions and have been trying to get back to that spot since then. They got bronze at the 2025 U.S. championships and landed two more third place finishes at two Grand Prix events since then, but had their best finish of the season this year with a second place finish that gave them a great boost to secure the Olympic spot.
Emily Chan and Spencer Akira Howe -
Age: Chan is 28, Howe is 29
Height: Chan is 5-3, Howe is 6-0
Hometown: Chan is from Dallas, Texas; Howe is from Los Angeles
Olympic experience: First
Event: Pairs
What to know: No top three finish, no problem for Chan and Howe as they get in as the final pairs team. Theyâve had fourth place finishes at the last two U.S. championships. This isn't the only time Howe has represented the U.S. â he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2024.
Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik -
Age: Zingas is 23, Kolesnik is 24
Height: Zingas is 5-1, Kolesnik is 5-9
Hometown: Zingas is from Detroit, Michigan; Kolesnik is from Novi, Michigan
Olympic experience: First
Event: Ice dance
What to know: Zingas and Kolesnik have turned it up when it mattered, reaching the podium in four of the five events this season, capped off with the second place finish at the 2026 U.S. championships that punctuated the resume to send them to the Olympics. Kolesnik was born in Ukraine and obtained his American citizenship over the summer. They are also a couple, in a relationship since 2022.
Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko -
Age: Carreira is 25, Ponomarenko is 24
Height: Carreira is 5-5, Ponomarenko is 5-11
Hometown: Carreira is from Saint Clair, Michigan; Ponomarenko is from San Jose, California
Olympic experience: First
Event: Ice dance
What to know: Even with a crowded field, Carrerira and Ponomarenko have remained consistent figures in the ice dance and earned their Olympic spot. Theyâve been in the top five of every event theyâve done since 2024, and theyâve placed in the top five of the past four U.S. championships, including two second place finishes. Their selection comes right on time as Carreira, a Canada native, obtained her American citizenship in November. Before then, they would drive across the Canada-U.S. border every day for practice.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who's on US figure skating Olympic team? Meet 2026 Team USA skaters
Source: âAOL Sportsâ
