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

[ice coverage]

What catchy name would YOU give to the USA men's figure skating trio?

Team USA on Instagram: "The 2020 Reunion Tour, The Talon Trio or The Troublemakers. 🤔 What should the U.S. Olympic Men’s Figure Skating Team be called? #WinterOlympics"

1,720 likes, 21 comments - teamusa on January 22, 2026: "The 2020 Reunion Tour, The Talon Trio or The Troublemakers. 🤔 What should the U.S. Olympic Men’s Figure Skating Team be called? #WinterOlympics".

www.instagram.com

" Tallinn Trio " surely is what Torgashev actually was saying -- because Tallinn hosted 2020 Junior Worlds, where Max, Andrew, and Ilia were USA's competitors in men. (Similar concept to Ilia's choice of "2020 Reunion Tour".)

Too bad that Team USA social media person misunderstood and wrote "Talon" instead of "Tallinn."

On a happier note, I like the sense of kinship among the three guys!

 

[Vagabond]

"Beluga, Osetra, and Sevruga."

 

[barbk]

The Trying Triad?

 

[Allskate]

The Quad God and his Disciples?

 

[Sylvia]

" Tallinn Trio " surely is what Torgashev actually was saying -- because Tallinn hosted 2020 Junior Worlds, where Max, Andrew, and Ilia were USA's competitors in men. (Similar concept to Ilia's choice of "2020 Reunion Tour".)

Too bad that Team USA social media person misunderstood and wrote "Talon" instead of "Tallinn."

No wonder I was by Andrew's (USFS') "Talon Trio" - thank you for clearing that up for me!

I posted this short 1:45 clip in Maxim's fan thread yesterday (CNN's Coy Wire is the journalist):

The Lead with Jake Tapper on Instagram: "Maxim Naumov is preparing to compete in the Olympics one year after losing his parents in a tragic plane crash: 'Lacing up those skates for the first time was one of the most difficult things I've ever done in

560 likes, 4 comments - theleadcnn on January 22, 2026: "Maxim Naumov is preparing to compete in the Olympics one year after losing his parents in a tragic plane crash: 'Lacing up those skates for the first time was one of the most difficult things I've ever done in my life... the path to...

www.instagram.com

 

[Capt. DeSoto]

I'd like to start a new fan/cheer thread for Jacob - any creative or witty thread title ideas?

Quad God Squad Mod?

I was trying to think of something focused on Jacob, but this popped into my mind based on their friendship.

 

[Allskate]

BTW, I'd like to start a new fan/cheer thread for Jacob - any creative or witty thread title ideas?

Jacob is Climbing the Ladder?

 

[BittyBug]

I posted this short 1:45 clip in Maxim's fan thread yesterday (CNN's Coy Wire is the journalist):

The Lead with Jake Tapper on Instagram: "Maxim Naumov is preparing to compete in the Olympics one year after losing his parents in a tragic plane crash: 'Lacing up those skates for the first time was one of the most difficult things I've ever done in

560 likes, 4 comments - theleadcnn on January 22, 2026: "Maxim Naumov is preparing to compete in the Olympics one year after losing his parents in a tragic plane crash: 'Lacing up those skates for the first time was one of the most difficult things I've ever done in my life... the path to...

www.instagram.com

“The path to healing was in doing the difficult things.”

 

[YukiNieve]

From Jackie's Xweet on Men's FS for Four Continents:

Confirmed with Tomoki Hiwatashi that he said this was his last competition - that was a retirement announcement in the kiss & cry

https://x.com/rockerskating/status/2015326475717910683

 

[YukiNieve]

Tomoki won the juvenile, intermediate, novice, and junior levels of the U.S. Nationals.

Are there any other U.S. men who have done that? I am wondering.

Throwback...

https://x.com/YukiNieve/status/2015345685810258016/photo/2

 

[kwanfan1818]

It makes sense for Hiwatashi to retire with this, but it’s still

 

[YukiNieve]

From Mainichi Newspaper:
Former World Junior Champion Tomoki Hiwatashi Announces Retirement from Amateur Competitions

After his performance, he reflected, “I thought to myself that making a little mistake even right up until the very end (of my amateur career) is just like me. But I was able to skate happily, and I feel that it was a skating career I could be incredibly satisfied with. I'm glad I could finish on such a good note.”

He plans to start working for a trading company in Chicago, USA. “I also want to stay involved in skating,” he said, adding that while working, he aims to obtain certification as a technical specialist in the future.

フィギュア・元世界ジュニア王者の樋渡知樹が現役引退表明 | 毎日新聞

フィギュアスケート男子で2019年世界ジュニア王者の樋渡知樹（26）＝米国＝が、今季限りでの現役引退を表明した。25日まで北京で開催されていた4大陸選手権に出場し、この日のフリーは159・66点、合計240・54点で7位。

mainichi.jp