Amber Glenn made history by winning her third straight U.S. Figure Skating title with a stunning performance at the Enterprise Center. She finished with 233.55 points, narrowly beating world champion Alysa Liu, who scored 228.91. Isabeau Levito earned bronze, securing a probable spot on the U.S. team for the upcoming Milan Cortina Olympics.
Glenn expressed her gratitude, saying, “That was terrifying. I had to skate after two amazing ladies. I’m still just mind-blown.” Over the past two years, she has consistently wowed audiences with her skills.
Earlier in the event, the pairs duo of Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov defended their title despite some hiccups, including a close call when Mitrofanov nearly got hit by Efimova’s skate. They finished with 207.71 points. Their main competitors, Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea, scored 197.12 points.
Currently, there’s some uncertainty about whether Efimova and Mitrofanov can compete in the Olympics. Although Efimova is a U.S. citizen, she was born in Finland and previously represented Germany and Russia. Even though she’s married to Mitrofanov and has a green card, she hasn’t yet received her U.S. passport. The Skating Club of Boston has been liaising with officials to expedite her citizenship process, but time is running short.
Team selections for the Olympic Games are set for Sunday. The U.S. has qualified three women’s spots but only two pairs. If Efimova’s citizenship is approved last minute, she and Mitrofanov could secure one of those spots, while Kam and O’Shea are almost guaranteed a place.
In recent weeks, there has been a surge of support for Efimova, with fans rallying on social media to ensure she can compete. The hashtags #TeamEfimova and #CitizenshipForAlisa are trending, highlighting the emotional investment of fans in the athlete’s journey.
Glenn, Liu, and Levito were in fine form. Levito dazzled the crowd with a fluid routine set to music from “Cinema Paradiso,” while Liu’s energetic performance to Lady Gaga songs was equally impressive. Glenn topped it off with an incredible start, landing a triple axel, a difficult jump that only she attempted in the competition. The crowd responded with a standing ovation, and emotions ran high as she celebrated her victory.
As the Olympic Games approach, the excitement among fans and skaters alike only continues to grow. The trio of Glenn, Liu, and Levito is a hopeful sign for U.S. figure skating on an international stage.
For more insights into Olympic preparations, you can check out the latest updates from U.S. Figure Skating.
