The United States Olympic figure skating team for the upcoming Winter Games was finalized on Sunday, capping a weekend of national championships in St. Louis with a blend of expected triumphs and profound personal stories. While winners from the U.S. Figure Skating Championships secured their spots, the official announcement of the 16-athlete squad was marked by both celebration and somber reflection.
A Team Forged from Triumph and Tragedy
The roster features newly crowned men's national champion Ilia Malinin, the 21-year-old from Fairfax, Virginia, who will make his Olympic debut after winning his fourth consecutive national title. He is joined in men's singles by Andrew Torgashev, 24, who placed second, and Maxim Naumov, 24, who finished third.
Naumov's selection carries a heartbreaking legacy. His parents, Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova, were world champion pairs skaters for Russia in 1994 and competed in two Olympics before becoming coaches. They were among the 67 people, including 26 connected to figure skating, who died in a commercial plane crash in Washington, D.C., on January 29 of last year. The couple was returning from Wichita, Kansas, the host city for the 2025 U.S. championships.
"I would not be sitting here without the unimaginable work effort and love from my parents," Naumov said at a Sunday news conference. "It means absolutely everything to me, fulfilling the dream that we collectively had as a family since I first was on the ice at 5 years old. And I know they're looking down, smiling and proud."
The Full Roster for Milan-Cortina 2026
On the women's side, first-time Olympian Amber Glenn, 26, who won her third straight national title, leads the team. She is joined by reigning world champion Alysa Liu, 20, and 2023 national champion Isabeau Levito, 18.
In ice dance, the record-setting married duo of Madison Chock, 33, and Evan Bates, 36, headline the team. They have won five consecutive national titles and seven overall, and will be competing in their fourth Olympics together. They are joined by the teams of Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik, and Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko.
The pairs teams selected are Ellie Kam and Danny O'Shea (silver medalists at nationals) and Emily Chan and Spencer Howe (fourth place). Their selection came with notable drama, as two-time reigning U.S. champions Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov were excluded. Efimova, born in Finland, was unable to get her U.S. citizenship approved before Sunday's selection deadline, despite efforts from their training base, the Skating Club of Boston, and U.S. senators.
Furthermore, the third-place pairs team of Katie McBeath and Daniil Parkman was not considered because Parkman was born in Russia and does not hold a U.S. passport.
Looking Ahead to Italy
The 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina, Italy, are scheduled for February 6-22. This U.S. figure skating team, blending youthful talent, veteran experience, and a deeply emotional narrative of perseverance, will aim for the podium next month, carrying the hopes of a nation and the memory of those who paved their way.
