U.S. 'Blade Angels' Eye End to 20-Year Olympic Drought

Three American figure skaters are rewriting what it means to be Olympic athletes, and they're doing it together.

At the Milan Olympics, Isabeau Levito, Alysa Liu, and Amber Glenn have formed an unlikely sisterhood. They call themselves the "Blade Angels," and they're attempting to end a 20-year drought for U.S. women in figure skating singles medals.

What makes them special isn't just their talent. It's how different they are from each other and from the traditional "ice princess" mold that once dominated the sport.

Liu, the reigning world champion, rocks blonde streaks in her black hair and an upper lip piercing. Glenn, 26, combines raw power in her triple axel with deep emotional performances on the ice. Levito brings classic ballet elegance wrapped in a personality that makes everyone smile.

"I really like that we're all so different," Levito said between training sessions. "We have our own strengths and our own personalities and our own ways we want to look and appear."

The trio workshopped their nickname together after nationals, rejecting "Babes of Glory" and "Powerpuff Girls" for copyright concerns. Liu gets credit for the final mashup of "Blades of Glory" and "Charlie's Angels."

Liu has already made history, becoming the first U.S. woman to win a world title since 2006. Now all three are positioned to break an even longer streak: no American woman has medaled in Olympic singles skating since Sasha Cohen's podium finish in 2006.

The Games haven't been easy. The U.S. figure skating team faced unexpected challenges, with favorites falling short in earlier events. Glenn has dealt with online threats and copyright issues while standing proudly for LGBTQ+ rights as a bisexual and pansexual athlete.

Why This Inspires

Instead of letting pressure divide them, these women chose collaboration over competition. They trained together at a facility outside Milan, took breaks together, and genuinely celebrated each other's strengths.

Glenn, who four years ago couldn't imagine making the Olympic team, said alumni keep telling her to "enjoy it." That's exactly what the Angels are doing, moldy plants in hotel rooms and all.

Their message to young athletes watching? You don't have to fit a mold to succeed. You just need passion, hard work, and teammates who lift you up.

The last American gold in women's singles came in 2002 with Sarah Hughes. The "Blade Angels" are writing their own story, one that celebrates differences and shows that supporting your teammates doesn't mean sacrificing your own dreams.