Something magical happened on the ice in St. Louis this week, and it's giving American figure skating fans every reason to celebrate. Three remarkable women are rewriting the story of U.S. figure skating, and their performances at the national championships have everyone believing that brighter days are ahead for the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Amber Glenn, Alysa Liu, and Isabeau Levito delivered what may go down as the finest night of women's short-program skating in U.S. history. One after another, these talented athletes took to the ice and delivered flawless, mesmerizing performances that left audiences breathless and judges reaching for record-breaking scores.

The evening's crescendo came from Glenn, the two-time defending national champion who, at 26, is pursuing her Olympic dream with determination and grace. Her scintillating triple axel was a thing of beauty, propelling her to a new U.S. short-program record of 83.05 points. The achievement was made even more remarkable by the fact that she broke a record set just ten minutes earlier by Liu, who scored 81.11 points.

Between these two powerhouse performances, 18-year-old Levito, the 2023 national champion, delivered her own strong showing with 75.72 points, proving that America's depth in women's figure skating is truly impressive.

What makes this trio even more special is their genuine friendship and mutual support. They finish each other's sentences, share jokes, and genuinely celebrate one another's successes. This camaraderie was on full display as Liu chose to stay rinkside to watch Levito skate rather than heading backstage as is customary.

"I like watching them skate, so I'm going to watch them," Liu explained with infectious enthusiasm. "So many people pay to watch. I'm going to be here and watch for free from really close to the ice."

Glenn described the atmosphere as electric, with each skater building on the energy of the previous performance. "The vibes were great today," she said. "It just kept going up and up and up and up. I'm very happy that I got to keep it going up."

Liu's journey itself is inspiring—she became the youngest U.S. women's champion ever at just 13, briefly retired at 16, then returned two years later to become the reigning world champion. Her resilience and passion for the sport exemplify the spirit of these athletes.

Levito captured the evening's essence perfectly, describing it as feeling "like a big show"—which it certainly was.

After two decades without an Olympic medal in women's figure skating, these three friends are showing that American excellence on the ice is alive and thriving. With the long program still to come and the 2026 Winter Olympics on the horizon, there's every reason to believe that this talented generation will bring joy and medals back to Team USA.

The future of American women's figure skating isn't just bright—it's dazzling.