Three US Figure Skaters Break Records With Joy in St. Louis Championship

Something magical happened on the ice at Enterprise Center in St. Louis on Friday night. One after another, America's top women figure skaters delivered performances so stunning that each seemed impossible to top until the next woman appeared. The result was the best collective showing by U.S. women's figure skating in the 21st century, and it came wrapped in laughter, hugs, and genuine friendship.

Amber Glenn captured her third consecutive U.S. figure skating title with a score of 233.55, while Alysa Liu finished second with 228.91 and Isabeau Levito claimed third with 224.45. Less than 10 points separated the three women, and any of them could have taken first place. More importantly, all three are virtually guaranteed spots on the U.S. Olympic team heading to Milan-Cortina next month.

What made the evening truly special wasn't just the technical brilliance on display. It was the warmth and support these athletes showed each other. As Levito's score was announced, Liu clapped enthusiastically. After Glenn was declared the winner, the three gathered in a circle for a group hug. At the news conference that followed, they praised each other's performances with genuine delight.

"The ladies were on fire this competition," Glenn said, beaming. Liu added, "This was so fun to watch. Everybody's telling me this was fun to watch, and I agree."

Liu even confessed to sweating through Glenn's jumps as if they were her own, mentally coaching her friend to "breathe and believe." The moment she shared this, both women burst into laughter, the kind that comes from true camaraderie rather than competitive tension.

For the first time in years, Glenn delivered clean short and long programs at the same competition. Liu debuted a stunning new free skate to a Lady Gaga medley, earning a standing ovation. Levito, recovered from a foot injury that nearly derailed last season, skated with grace and confidence, achieving her second-best score ever in the short program.

Why This Inspires

The most remarkable aspect of this competition was how relaxed and joyful all three skaters appeared. Figure skating has long been associated with crushing pressure, mental health struggles, and eating disorders. These three women seemed to represent something new: a generation that takes their sport seriously without taking themselves too seriously.

When an influencer asked Liu about her platinum and chestnut hair rings, the conversation devolved into delightful silliness. Liu explained her vision of her hair as a tree, gaining a new ring each year. Levito playfully suggested she get a buzz cut or add stars to her hair. They laughed together because here they were, on the verge of potentially ending America's 18-year Olympic medal drought in women's figure skating, and they were giggling about hair.

That laughter might be their secret weapon. Their joy in each other's success, their ability to support rather than tear down, and their refusal to be crushed by expectations could be exactly what carries them to the Olympic podium. No American woman has medaled since Sasha Cohen's silver in 2006, but if Friday night was any indication, that drought is about to end with smiles on their faces.