Following the conclusion of the U.S. figure skating national championships in St. Louis, the winners secured their spots to compete in the upcoming Winter Olympics. However, the announcement of the U.S. Olympic team on Sunday brought its own share of drama.
U.S. Figure Skating unveiled the 16 athletes who will represent the country at the Milan-Cortina Games next month in Italy. This includes new men’s national champion Ilia Malinin, first-time Olympian Amber Glenn in the women’s competition, and the seven-time national champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates in ice dance.
Despite finishing third behind Malinin, Maxim Naumov’s journey in the sport is marked by tragedy. His parents, Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova, who were former world champions in pairs figure skating, tragically perished in a plane crash last year.
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Maxim Naumov, a skater from Simsbury, Conn., expressed his gratitude for his parents’ support and guidance in his skating career. He was thrilled to learn that he had made the U.S. Olympic team, fulfilling a dream they shared as a family.
Joining Naumov in the men’s singles competition are Malinin and Andrew Torgashev, while Glenn is accompanied by Alysa Liu and Isabeau Levito in the women’s event. Chock and Bates, the reigning national champions in ice dance, will compete alongside other talented pairs.
The exclusion of Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov from the Olympic team due to citizenship issues added a layer of complexity to the selection process. Despite the challenges, the U.S. pairs teams are gearing up for the upcoming Winter Games in Milan and Cortina.
The 2026 Winter Olympics are set to take place in Milan and Cortina, Italy from February 6-22.
