The women’s singles competition at the 2026 Winter Olympics opened with a short program that delivered drama, surprise leaders, and a razor-thin margin between the medal contenders. By the end of the night in Milan, the standings were so tight that the free skate final remains open, with less than three points separating the top three skaters and multiple athletes still capable of reshaping the podium.
Japan emerged as the early powerhouse, led by teenager Ami Nakai and reigning star Kaori Sakamoto, while the US trio, often dubbed the ‘Blade Angels,’ produced three very different stories. Alysa Liu delivered a composed, medal-threatening performance that kept her firmly in the title race. Isabeau Levito skated a refined and artistic routine that kept her within striking distance despite a few technical deductions.
Amber Glenn, meanwhile, landed a rare triple axel but committed a costly mistake, creating one of the most emotional moments of the evening.
With all three Americans advancing to the free skate, the stage is set for a high-stakes final, where clean programs, strategic technical choices, and pressure management will determine the medals. The short program offered only the opening act, and if history is any guide, the longer, higher-value free skate could dramatically alter the final standings.
Alysa Liu’s Performance in the Women’s Short Program at the 2026 Winter Olympics
Alysa Liu produced one of the cleanest and most composed skates of the night. She performed to ‘Promise’ by Laufey, earning 76.59 points and finishing third overall. Her program combined technical reliability with confident expression, putting her within a few points of the leaders and keeping an Olympic medal well within reach.
Her clean jump execution across key elements, strong skating flow, speed between transitions, and mature presentation that boosted component scores worked beautifully in her performance. Liu’s comeback arc after stepping away from competition and returning at an elite level has become one of the defining narratives of the event, and her short program reinforced that she is capable of challenging for gold.
Isabeau Levito’s Performance in the Women’s Short Program at the 2026 Winter Olympics
In her Olympic debut, Isabeau Levito delivered a polished routine, marked by strong artistry and musical interpretation. With her performance to ‘Almost In Your Arms’ by Zou Bisou, she scored 70.85, which placed her eighth and brought her close enough to move upward, though she faces a points gap to the podium going into the final round of the free skate.
She delivered a strong performance and a clean overall structure. Although minor technical deductions limited her scoring ceiling, she is still within range for a top-five finish or better with a clean final.
Amber Glenn’s Performance in the Women’s Short Program at the 2026 Winter Olympics
Amber Glenn’s short program began strongly, as she was the only American to do a triple axel in the qualifier round. However, she fell short in completing an element, which sharply reduced her score. She performed on Madonna’s ‘Like a Prayer’ and finished in the 13th position, scoring 67.39 points.
She has advanced to the final, as her early technical brilliance put her in a strong position. Glenn’s emotional finish reflected the pressure of the Olympic stage.
Schedule of the Women’s Short Program Final at the 2026 Winter Olympics
The final round of the women’s short program at the 2026 Winter Olympics is scheduled for Thursday, February 19.
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