U.S. Men 2025-26 Discussion - Quad God and the Mere Mortals

[Sylvia]

Jacob Sanchez was a guest on Polina’s podcast:

The Iron Butterfly: On The Come Up: Jacob Sanchez

I sit down with 2024 Junior Grand Prix Final Champion and Youth nOlympic Silver medalist Jacob Sanchez on his skating journey so far and goals for the future!

bleav.com

Thanks!

Which reminds me ... if you haven't yet watched the short documentary film about Jacob (includes footage from when he was young through 2023 Nationals in San Jose when he won the Junior silver medal), here's the link to the TV Alerts thread post: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...b-sanchez-olympic-dreams.111022/#post-6850561

 

[Sylvia]

2026 ISU Four Continents Championships (Jan. 21-25 in Beijing) preliminary entries were published online today and the USFS is being allowed to submit their entries & subs after Nationals (Men's FS is on Saturday, Jan. 10).

16 of the 18 men currently scheduled to compete at 2026 Nationals have the 2026 4CC minimum CTES of 86 (as usual, the 3 selected for the Olympic team will bypass 4CC):
Ilia MALININ USA 210.34
Tomoki HIWATASHI USA 137.45
Jason BROWN USA 136.38
Jimmy MA USA 131.88
Andrew TORGASHEV USA 130.25
Maxim NAUMOV USA 126.58
Jacob SANCHEZ USA 121.38
Liam KAPEIKIS USA 116.18
Daniel MARTYNOV USA 116.12
Camden PULKINEN USA 113.96 (has not competed this season due to injury; has not WD from Nationals to date)
Michael XIE USA 104.21
Goku ENDO USA 99.60
Kai KOVAR USA 94.58
Samuel MINDRA USA 89.25
William ANNIS USA 87.82
Emmanuel SAVARY USA 86.04

5 more have the minimum CTES but are not competing at 2026 Nationals:
Lucas BROUSSARD USA 131.32 (has not competed this season due to injury)
Taira SHINOHARA USA 109.06 (Midwesterns, 4th; 2nd alternate to Nationals)
Yaroslav PANIOT USA 104.51 (retired)
Joseph KLEIN USA 103.42 (has not competed this season due to injury)
Beck STROMMER USA 90.53 (competed in 1 NQS this season; WD from Mids due to injury)

ETA: 2026 Worlds minimum CTES is 109.

 

[Sylvia]

Jacob Sanchez was interviewed by a Puerto Rican media outlet yesterday (he spoke English) - video is linked here: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...b-sanchez-olympic-dreams.111022/#post-6857372

 

[Sylvia]

11 ISU Junior age-eligible men currently scheduled to compete at 2026 Nationals have the 2026 Junior Worlds CTES of 80 (U.S. has 2 spots; dates are March 3–8 in Tallinn):

Lucius KAZANECKI USA 124.75 (Senior at Nationals)
Patrick BLACKWELL USA 122.97
Jacob SANCHEZ USA 122.65 (Senior)
Caleb FARRINGTON USA 106.68
Nicholas BROOKS USA 104.43
Lorenzo ELANO USA 103.43 (Senior)
Aleksandr FEGAN USA 98.54
Zachary LOPINTO USA 93.20
Kirk HAUGETO USA 91.05
Louis MALLANE USA 90.28
Ryan William AZADPOUR USA 81.81

2 more have the minimum CTES but are not competing at 2026 Nationals:
Marlo ROSEN USA 84.63 (Midwestern, 5th in Junior)
Vaclav VASQUEZ USA 81.45 (Pacific Coast, 5th in Junior)

 

[Allskate]

Lucas BROUSSARD USA 131.32 (has not competed this season due to injury)

Has anyone seen or heard an update on Lucas? I know he can't compete at Nationals, but is he at least training? Is he at the Cricket Club? Any word on injury? It's such a shame he has missed competing this season.

 

[Sylvia]

Has anyone seen or heard an update on Lucas?

Sadly, no. I periodically check the various Cricket Club-related Instagram accounts and haven't seen Broussard featured in any posts/reels since July.

June 2025 (spin clip with Grayson Long): https://www.instagram.com/reel/DK2hyxTuGUu/
July (Jason's videos): https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLxPAhvs0eh/ & https://www.instagram.com/reel/DL9350HsCNS/

At one point I was considering starting a fan/cheer thread for him in the Trash Can (I've followed his career since he was a Juvenile)... guess it's a good thing that I never did?
ETA that Lucas won the Juvenile national title in 2019 (Tao MacRae now GBR, Antonio Monaco and Vaclav Vasquez are the 3 still competing from that field, AFAIK): https://ijs.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2019/27958/CAT002SEG002.html

I just looked at his 2025-26 National Team profile again: https://usfigureskating.org/sports/figure-skating/roster/lucas-broussard/1110
"Attends Stanford University ... Graduated from The Bush School in Seattle in 2025 ... Aspires to be an engineer at a tech company ..."

Maybe he decided after attending Champs Camp to forgo his planned gap year and begin his freshman year at Stanford after all?

 

[clairecloutier]

Ilia said in his pre-Nationals press call that he hopes to continue for 2 more Olympics after Milano

Malinin: "I want to skate in 3 Olympics" - A divine sport

For Ilia Malinin, the road to the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics is winding ever closer to its finish. Next week, the 21-year-old American will look to win his fourth straight national title at the 2026 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships. Less than a month later, he expects to be in...

adivinesport.com

 

[Vagabond]

Does anyone want to predict when he will start practicing sextuple jumps?

 

[ice coverage]

ETA that Lucas won the Juvenile national title in 2019 (Tao MacRae now GBR, Antonio Monaco and Vaclav Vasquez are the 3 still competing from that field, AFAIK): https://ijs.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2019/27958/CAT002SEG002.html

FWIW, a small but happy footnote: Jonathan Hildebrandt competes in intercollegiate skating. (I think it's his second season on the NYU team.)
Such as: https://ijs.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/nonqual_results/2025/36462/115_senior men spc1.htm
Jumping video from November: https://www.instagram.com/p/DQ7pKRujmfz/?img_index=4

 

[Allskate]

Maybe he decided after attending Champs Camp to forgo his planned gap year and begin his freshman year at Stanford after all?

Maybe. But, when he withdrew from his first GP, he didn't withdraw from his second, which made me think that he thought there might still be a chance that he could compete this season. Plus, as I recall, his first withdrawal this season came a few weeks after school started. It's a shame. If he couldn't skate, he might as well have gone to school. I wonder if he'll attend school next semester. I would understand if he decided to devote all his energy to school, but I sure would like to see him skate again. I've been looking for updates, too, and couldn't find any.

 

[tangerine dream]

Maybe. But, when he withdrew from his first GP, he didn't withdraw from his second, which made me think that he thought there might still be a chance that he could compete this season. Plus, as I recall, his first withdrawal this season came a few weeks after school started. It's a shame. If he couldn't skate, he might as well have gone to school. I wonder if he'll attend school next semester. I would understand if he decided to devote all his energy to school, but I sure would like to see him skate again. I've been looking for updates, too, and couldn't find any.

I also want to see him continue skating. If his injuries are related to jumping, I think he could be a really good ice dancer (preferably with Isabeau ).

 

[zigzig]

Because the junior is showing more future promise and neither of those two have ever come close to delivering on the promise they showed at the same age as Lucius. Here's a comparison of their fall scores scores this season - keep in mind, Lucius skating only juniors this fall has had one less jumping pass and no quads in the SP while Torgy or Naumov are on the senior circuit.

Torgashev -
CS Nebelhorn - 239.54
GPdF - 233.36
NHK - 212.01

Naumov -
CS Lombardia - 223.43
GPdF - 226.74
IceChallenge Graz - 246.70
CS Tallinn - 223.04

Kazanecki -
JGP Ankara - 202.67
JGP Abu Dhabi - 219.63
JGPF - 225.85

And, just for reference, I'll throw in Tomoki Hiwatashi's top 3 scores from this fall -
CS Kinoshita Group Cup - 236.71
CS Trialeti Trophy - 237.11
CoC - 245.71
SCI - 230.58

The USFS has stated they are looking at scoring trends and head-to-head matchups. Kazanecki has demonstrated a clear upward scoring trend while Torgy & Naumov have not. I see no reason why, if Lucius beats them and skates well at Nationals, to not send him out to earn the Sr CTES mins and, potentially, name him to the Olympic team.

PREACH

 

[Sasha'sSpins]

I also want to see him continue skating. If his injuries are related to jumping, I think he could be a really good ice dancer (preferably with Isabeau ).

I think that Isabeau could also make a fine Pairs skater!

Back OT, I LOVE that Ilia plans to keep skating on after Milano! If he's careful he absolutely could make it to two more Olympic Games!

 

[Allskate]

I also want to see him continue skating. If his injuries are related to jumping, I think he could be a really good ice dancer (preferably with Isabeau ).

He's going to Stanford, which isn't in an area known for ice dance coaching. I think it might be harder for him to pick up ice dance than pairs. He could pull a Deanna and, long after recovering from injury, pick up pairs. Doing double axels and some easy triples wouldn't be much of a problem for him and wouldn't require many repetitions. But, I'm still hoping to see him have an injury free season skating singles.

When Isabeau was asked who she would want to do pairs or dance with, she said Amber. She thinks they both have enough upper body strength to lift each other. They are both pretty buff, so maybe they could do the dance lifts. It would be fun to see them do a little bit in an exhibition or for SOI.

 

[Sylvia]

Ken Mikawa, the kid young man who 2 years ago started a comeback from a 10 year hiatus from Intermediate-level competition, came up just 2.36 points shy of making it to senior nats as the second wildcard (the goal he publicly set for himself on IG). I was really rooting for him.
... Better luck next year Ken (I draw the line at actively rooting for someone else to drop out).

Camden just officially WD from Nationals:

Camden Pulkinen on Instagram: "The harrowing feeling of not being able to create art on the medium that the 5-year-old Camden fell in love with is agonizing. The hollow carved into my heart by skating feels vast, almost unfillable. What I miss most i

Camden JP's heartfelt goodbye to skating is a poignant reminder of the sacrifices athletes make for their sport. His decision to withdraw from the 2026 U.S. Championships due to a herniated disc and chronic pain raises questions about the true cost of dedication. Camden's struggle to balance...

www.instagram.com

"... This past year, I’ve been battling a herniated disc in my lower back, which has made consistent, pain-free training impossible. After much reflection, I’ve made the difficult decision to withdraw from the 2026 U.S. Championships. It breaks my heart to step away with the Olympics so close, but once again, I am choosing to prioritize my long-term health. Thank you, everyone "

I met Ken and his mom at the Potomac Open this summer and talked with them about how he rekindled his love for the sport and decided to pursue his personal goal, even though it is quite demanding, financially and time-wise, as it is for anyone in this sport. He has a really nice 3A, which is impressive considering his 10-year absence from the sport.

Happy about this amazing opportunity for Ken!

 

[Karen-W]

What a shame for Camden, but I think we were all expecting this outcome unfortunately.

 

[kwanette]

Camden was my favorite of the "B" boys..I am sad..

 

[skatingguy]

https://www.reddit.com/r/FigureSkating/comments/1q0krxe/i_got_called_up_to_us_nationals

 

[Allskate]

Camden just officially WD from Nationals:

That's really sad. Not just because he can't compete at Nationals and has no chance of making the Olympics. It sounds like he is going to stop skating entirely because of the herniated disc. If it's been a problem all year, it could be a chronic problem. I feel for him.

 

[Sylvia]

Thanks @skatingguy - I don't visit Reddit often. Here's what Ken wrote there:

Long time no see everyone - this is Ken. since Camden unfortunately withdrew, I'm being called up as first alternate to compete at US Nationals next week!

This has been my endgame goal and dream since I returned to skating 2 years ago, so I'm really happy to have gotten here

A bit of retrospective on my Sectionals performances - dealing with an emergency boot change and sickness a few weeks before the competition threw off my preparations hard. Pulling off the cleanest program I've done to date in spite of that is the biggest accomplishment I could say I've ever achieved in my skating career.

My preparations haven't exactly been airtight this time either (holiday schedule at a small and cold rink ) but I'm hoping to make the most of this privilege to perform on the national stage.

Shoutouts to this subreddit for cheering me on!

 

[Spiralgraph]

Aww I feel bad for Camden. I don't know anything about Ken Mikawa, but Ill be having positive thoughts for him when I watch Nationals on TV next week.

 

[Sylvia]

Ken Mikawa last competed at U.S. Nationals at the Juvenile level in 2013 (6th place; Maxim Naumov won gold that year: https://ijs.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2013/68390/CAT018SEG035.html) - link to view Mikawa's competitive history: https://skatingscores.com/usa/men/ken_mikawa/

 

[BittyBug]

I’m sorry for Camden and hope he’ll make a full recovery. I’m also sorry for us that we won’t get to see his skating, which at its peak was glorious. He has such a commanding sweep of the ice and great expression.

 

[skatingguy]

Thanks @skatingguy - I don't visit Reddit often. Here's what Ken wrote there:

Good - at least there's one social media site I can stalk for info that you won't have posted already.

 

[Lanie]

I am so sad for Camden. I hope his recovery goes well but herniated discs are horrible. I hope it isn't a sort of retirement announcement. I've always enjoyed his skating.

 

[YukiNieve]

Sad for Camden and happy for Ken.

I hope Ken will have a great time in St. Louis!

 

[ChillSkate]

I'm sorry to hear this news about Camden and wish him all the best for recovering from this injury and for his future beyond skating.

When I attended Legacy on Ice, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed Camden's skating. Not that I didn't expect to like him, but I didn't think he would be among my most memorable performances in an event filled with so many stars. His performance quality, extension, and the way he engaged the audience by looking into the crowd and performing to the rafters were top notch. I'm very glad I got the opportunity to see him perform in person.

 

[ross_hy]

I'm sad for Camden, but if he had to withdraw, I'm glad he did it in time for someone else to have an opportunity to compete.

I hope Camden is able to heal from his injury and can find peace with skating if he doesn't compete again. When I first read the news, I somewhat strangely immediately thought of the second triple Axel in his free skate at Nationals last year. It has one of the best lifts and distances in a jump that I can remember, almost like an American Han Yan. Luckily, on the USFS video that's on YouTube, the actual music was playing in that section of the program (unlike the lame background music they had to splice in for the first half).

Full video here if anyone wants to watch it before next week - fair warning, most of Ilia's music is subbed out, among others.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIe-U3Ek-G4

 

[Sylvia]

I'm sad for Camden, but if he had to withdraw, I'm glad he did it in time for someone else to have an opportunity to compete.

I hope Camden is able to heal from his injury and can find peace with skating if he doesn't compete again. When I first read the news, I somewhat strangely immediately thought of the second triple Axel in his free skate at Nationals last year. It has one of the best lifts and distances in a jump that I can remember, almost like an American Han Yan. Luckily, on the USFS video that's on YouTube, the actual music was playing in that section of the program

Timestamped link (2:22:18): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIe-U3Ek-G4&t=8538s

 

[Allskate]

I am so sad for Camden. I hope his recovery goes well but herniated discs are horrible. I hope it isn't a sort of retirement announcement. I've always enjoyed his skating.

He says he's "stepping away" and is prioritizing his long-term health. He doesn't say he's stepping away permanently. So, maybe we'll see him skate again. But, as I know from personal experience, high impact athletics can be very problematic when it comes to herniated disc problems, and repeated herniated discs can cause long-term and permanent issues that go beyond back pain. It's obviously a very sad decision for him, but he's smart to prioritize his long-term health. He's only 25, and he doesn't want the rest of his life impacted by this injury. It would be sad but understandable if he decided to retire and focus on his job and career and preserving his health.