U.S. Women [#8]: Meet Me in St. Louis

[PRlady]

I love Alysa more all the time.

 

[Aceon6]

here is sooo much bling in figure skating.

And gymnastics!

I was speaking to a rep from a new boot company that has developed a carbon fiber freestyle boot. Each boot weighs less than a pound and most of that is in the sole. We talked about the advantages and how freeing it must be to be able to bring the free leg up with little effort, only to be weighed down with 10 pounds of bling

 

[Sylvia]

Cross-posting here from her fan thread...

Isabeau shared her post+10 photos from St. Louis today: https://www.instagram.com/p/DTtjkkejOk2/

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

My Love Letter to Figure Skating
Isabeau Levito Shares an Intimate Reflection on Growth, Perseverance, and Learning to Trust the Process.
Published on January 19, 2026
https://www.redbullcontentpool.com/international/CP-S-20413

Excerpt:

When I was a child, I worried I’d have to quit skating because the double axel was impossible, or so it seemed. I tried. I cried tears of frustration. I went again, and again. At age 10, I finally nailed it. “Oh, so I am going to make it!”
But I’ve not done this alone. I could have never understood or learned to believe in myself if it weren’t for my coaches reminding me every day, too. Even if it was by yelling at me for not fighting hard enough and messing up the second half of the program, and having me skate it again – all just to prove to me how I can be so much stronger than I believe. [...]
Figure skating has taught me that progress isn’t always linear. Some days you skate perfect programs, and some days you wipe out. It has taught me to trust the process, to push myself, and to find joy in the work I put into it, no matter the outcome. Those lessons follow me off the ice too, reminding me that growth takes time and that passion is something you choose, again and again.

 

[Allskate]

Alysa, Isabeau, and Amber have proposed names for their trio.

They've gone from debating the Ice Princess and Blades of Glory:

Skating Stan on Instagram: "Catch the Babes of Glory at the Winter Olympics starting February 6! ✨🔥 #figureskating #iceskating #olympics"

947 likes, 20 comments - fs.skatingstan on January 18, 2026: "Catch the Babes of Glory at the Winter Olympics starting February 6! ✨🔥 #figureskating #iceskating #olympics".

www.instagram.com

to suggesting that they be named the Bratz Set (Alyssa's suggestion), the Powerpuff Girls (Isabeau's), and to Amber sticking with the Big Three:

Team USA on Instagram: "Top of their game and needing the best name ✨ Drop your U.S. Olympic Women’s Figure Skating Team name ideas 👇 #WinterOlympics"

2,760 likes, 17 comments - teamusa on January 20, 2026: "Top of their game and needing the best name ✨ Drop your U.S. Olympic Women’s Figure Skating Team name ideas 👇 #WinterOlympics".

www.instagram.com

 

[Allskate]

Here is Isabeau talking about the chances of her getting an Olympic tattoo and also talking about how she wants to take on more risk next season:

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This isn't the first time Isabeau has talked about not taking risks with her skating until after the Olympics are over. She has emphasized that she really doesn't want to get injured. I wanted to remind her (and Alysa) of that when I saw a video the other day of Alysa on Isabeau's shoulders. They're so close to the Olympics. Don't do anything that is unnecessary and risky!

ETA: Here is the video of Alysa and Isabeau:

Fanpage Isabeau Levito on Instagram: "She's so strong #isabeaulevito #alysaliu #milanocortina26 🎥: naebaycam/TikTok"

188 likes, 3 comments - fanpage_isabeau_levito on January 17, 2026: "She's so strong #isabeaulevito #alysaliu #milanocortina26 🎥: naebaycam/TikTok".

www.instagram.com

And here is a link to a non-paywall version of the article:

MSN

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

I wonder if Bradie would consider skating for one more year, probably not an entire four year cycle obviously but she’s in the best form she’s been in. And her scores are very respectable.

 

[Allskate]

I wonder if Bradie would consider skating for one more year, probably not an entire four year cycle obviously but she’s in the best form she’s been in. And her scores are very respectable.

And she seems to be enjoying herself, which is the most important part of the decision. At some point, she will have to retire, but hopefully it won't be forced on her by injury and she will have planned something to transition to. There are so many high-level athletes who say that it is emotionally difficult when they stop competing and have to figure out what else to do.

 

[Jonas]

Something in my gut is telling me that Bradie will be called up to compete at Worlds. I'll wait to see how that pans out, but if she skates well there, I'd say she'll retire a happy woman.

Here's a crazy thought: I'd love to see Bradie redabble in pairs!! She competed, IIRC, at the intermediate in pairs.

Your thoughts...

 

[Allskate]

Here's a crazy thought: I'd love to see Bradie redabble in pairs!! She competed, IIRC, at the intermediate in pairs.

She seems pretty tall for pairs. I think she's at least six inches taller than Starr.

 

[Jonas]

She seems pretty tall for pairs. I think she's at least six inches taller than Starr.

I'd agree, but Bradie could use that to her advantage, i.e., Ashley Cain or Minerva Haase! (I didn't check any skaters' bio to confirm any height stats!)

Your thoughts...

 

[Allskate]

I'd agree, but Bradie could use that to her advantage, i.e., Ashley Cain or Minerva Haase! (I didn't check any skaters' bio to confirm any height stats!)

Your thoughts...

Ashley had a pretty tall partner. Can you think of a tall American male pairs skater who would want to skate with Bradie?

 

[Theatregirl1122]

I'd agree, but Bradie could use that to her advantage, i.e., Ashley Cain or Minerva Haase! (I didn't check any skaters' bio to confirm any height stats!)

Your thoughts...

Why do you end EVERY post with “your thoughts”

Everyone’s going to give their thoughts or not either way.

 

[Sylvia]

Why do you end EVERY post with “your thoughts”

Everyone’s going to give their thoughts or not either way.

I recall Jonas posting in other skating forums decades(!) ago and that's just the way he ends his posts. My first and only thought is that I don't/can't envision Bradie as a pair skater type.

 

[Vagabond]

Thought No. 1: Bradie Tennell and Nikolaj Memola would make a fine Pair.

Thought No.2: So too would Tennell and Marco Zandron.

 

[Wyliefan]

She'd be up in the rafters!

 

[Maximillian]

Wrong thread

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

can't envision Bradie as a pair skater type.

Me either, but on a second note look at the deep conversation I had started with this topic lol