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

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@Theatregirl1122 I'm nervous for Amber, but not for Isabeau or Alysa. Alysa just seems to be doing Alysa things. I don't even think she knows she's competing. Isabeau is out of the spotlight entirely.

As opposed to Maxim and Ilia - Ilia who in particular has been swarmed and hyped up to an insane degree - the ladies are out of the spotlight.
 
Theatregirl1122 said:
Anyone else very nervous for the women now?
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Skaterbob said:
No, I don't think any of them are favorites to win and definitely not by the landslide NBC and other made Ilia out to be. I hope they are have great skates and kinda hope Levito sneaks in for a medal since she couldn't do the team event.
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I think there are some unrealistic expectations on them to some degree, but definitely not Ilia level. And there is always self-imposed pressure, which at least Amber and Isabeau definitely have.

Fortunately, I think they are training in Bergamo right now.

According to an interview with Madi and Evan yesterday, they've all been having a good time, but Isabeau has been having a really great time and has been floating everywhere. (As Evan said, she really is the Red Bull girl with wings.) She was like a kid in a candy store when she first got to Milan - literally doing handstands when she got her Team U.S.A. gear. :lol: But, she's posted only once since the Opening Ceremony.

Alysa has been posting photos and vids and seems to be having a lot of fun, too. And she and Isabeau both have been hanging out with each other and some of the other team members.

I was little worried about Amber right after the TE, but she seemed much happier the next day when she was doing interviews with Alysa and K&O.
 
Theatregirl1122 said:
I think the moment got to Alyssa a little in the team short.
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She was a little tight but she did fine. And I think it's good that she's having a very different experience from Beijing. When Amber, Ilia, and C&B did a press conference last weekend, Alysa wasn't there, and I think that probably was her choice and a wise one.
 
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Willin said:
@Theatregirl1122 I'm nervous for Amber, but not for Isabeau or Alysa. Alysa just seems to be doing Alysa things. I don't even think she knows she's competing. Isabeau is out of the spotlight entirely.

As opposed to Maxim and Ilia - Ilia who in particular has been swarmed and hyped up to an insane degree - the ladies are out of the spotlight.
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In my tipping game with my friend I put Alysa for Gold cause she never makes mistakes. If she has a meltdown too, the ice is cursed :lol:
 
Theatregirl1122 said:
Anyone else very nervous for the women now?
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After yesterday, I was a bit nervous and it seems like we must be more careful in our predictions. I realize that their experiences are a bit different than Ilia's and as someone posted above, they are not favorites to win and I assume they understand up front they don't have an overwhelming tech arsenal.

Additionally, I almost forget that Alysa has Olympic experience as the US #1 at Beijing and she did well there (6th or 7th?), and she has shown she can change programs and kind of give the same energy in the middle of an Olympic season!
 
olympic said:
The number of US women who could shoulda woulda from 2007 to say 2021 is legion! And while she had an Olympic / World medal count, we can back up a bit to include Sasha from 2003-06, who splatted at horribly inopportune moments thus never standing atop the podium. I had never been so frustrated at any time as a FS fan than watching US women at that time.

When I see Alysa, Isabeau, and Amber (more and more) just hit hit hit, I am still in disbelief at times. I still see the other Alyssa (Czisny) as our #1 skater skate like a baby giraffe, so adorable yet so groan-inducing.
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We never know how Sasha and Alyssa would have skated if they didn't have to compete against Russians and 15-16 year olds.
 
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Here is an interesting article about the training going on in Bergamo during the Olympics, with quite a bit of discussion of the American women, especially Alysa. Alysa warms up her lutz/loop in a baseball cap, cuz why not? :lol: And, apparently, the skaters who usually train there affectionately have given the three women yet another nickname, "the dolls."

It's good to see confirmation that the American skaters have physios and sports psychologists on site. They even have judges (who are not judging the Olympic competition) to give them feedback.

csufolympics.com

Meanwhile, in Bergamo: A look inside IceLab amidst the Olympics

By Maya Bleszinski, CSUF World News
csufolympics.com csufolympics.com
 
Karen-W said:
Holy... WOW.

There's hype and then there's Taylor Swift narrating the Blade Angels promo...
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That is epic. No offense to the dude that did the voiceover on the original Blade Angels/Charlies Angels video, but he's no Taylor Swift. :lol:

Cyndi Lauper isn't Taylor Swift, either, but this new video of the Blade Angels is fun. I hope all three of them have a blast in competition this week:

www.instagram.com

U.S. Figure Skating | Spread the word 🤩🙌 #WinterOlympics | Instagram

592 likes, 4 comments - usfigureskating on February 16, 2026: "Spread the word 🤩🙌 #WinterOlympics".
www.instagram.com www.instagram.com

ETA: Here's an article from today on the American women. This is the first I've heard about Isabeau having food poisoning, but it sounds like she's dealt with it okay.

sports.yahoo.com

'Blade Angels' stay calm amid Olympic chaos while trying to end U.S. medal drought

The depth of this year's U.S. women's figure skating team is one of the reasons the Americans could dominate the podium at the Milan-Cortina Olympics.
sports.yahoo.com sports.yahoo.com
 
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Karen-W said:
Holy... WOW.

There's hype and then there's Taylor Swift narrating the Blade Angels promo...

www.instagram.com

NBC Olympics & Paralympics | Amber. Alysa. Isabeau. Let Taylor Swift introduce you to the Blade Angels: Three American showgirls on ice. #WinterOlympics | Instagram

9,881 likes, 147 comments - nbcolympics on February 16, 2026: "Amber. Alysa. Isabeau. Let Taylor Swift introduce you to the Blade Angels: Three American showgirls on ice. #WinterOlympics".
www.instagram.com www.instagram.com
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I just sent this to my teenage daughters. They are not really figure skating fans (yet). But they have announced their intention to watch the women's event. Because they think Amber and Alysa are cool. (They like Isabeau, too.) Is USFS finally reaching the youth? :lol:
 
clairecloutier said:
I just sent this to my teenage daughters. They are not really figure skating fans (yet). But they have announced their intention to watch the women's event. Because they think Amber and Alysa are cool. (They like Isabeau, too.) Is USFS finally reaching the youth? :lol:
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my friends are not the youths but they are swifties lol and they were very excited by this whoever pulled this off deserves a raise
 
clairecloutier said:
I just sent this to my teenage daughters. They are not really figure skating fans (yet). But they have announced their intention to watch the women's event. Because they think Amber and Alysa are cool. (They like Isabeau, too.) Is USFS finally reaching the youth? :lol:
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This Taylor Swift ad is a great way to market figure skating to teenagers and young adults.
 
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Firedancer said:
Amber got a good luck message from Madonna:
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Thanks! I've re-posted the link in Amber's fan thread.

Check out the fan threads of Amber, Alysa & Isabeau for more article/video links! :)

Thanks for finding this alternate link to the paywalled LA Times article by Thuc Nhi Nguyen (Feb. 16):
Allskate said:
ETA: Here's an article from today on the American women. This is the first I've heard about Isabeau having food poisoning, but it sounds like she's dealt with it okay.
sports.yahoo.com

'Blade Angels' stay calm amid Olympic chaos while trying to end U.S. medal drought

The depth of this year's U.S. women's figure skating team is one of the reasons the Americans could dominate the podium at the Milan-Cortina Olympics.
sports.yahoo.com sports.yahoo.com
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The TODAY Show's "The Blade Angels" preview with NBC’s Stephanie Gosk and Tara Lipinski:
www.youtube.com

Liu, Glenn, Levito Look to Make History in Women’s Figure Skating

Three former United States champions who go by “The Blade Angels,” Alysa Liu, Amber Glenn and Isabeau Levito, are each looking to be the first American woman...
www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
 
AngieNikodinovLove (ANL) said:
I just love this woman, she’s so mature, so insightful [...] if I would hear her speak and not know who she was I would think I’m listening to a 45 year.
www.instagram.com

Unfiltered Waters on Instagram: "“I want them to feel a different emotion than they’ve ever felt before.” Alysa Liu explains why skating is her version of cinema. #UnfilteredWaters #FrozenWaters #WinterOlympics #FigureSkating"

3,973 likes, 14 comments - unfilteredwaterspodcast on February 8, 2026: "“I want them to feel a different emotion than they’ve ever felt before.” Alysa Liu explains why skating is her version of cinema. #UnfilteredWaters #FrozenWaters #WinterOlympics #FigureSkating".
www.instagram.com www.instagram.com
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Re-posting... Alysa was the first Team USA figure skater on the Unfiltered Waters --> Frozen Waters podcast series that premiered on Feb. 4, 2026 with Olympic swimmers Katie Hoff & Missy Franklin who both attended Nationals in St. Louis and recorded this series of episodes there (10 mins.): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oRJJWwoFKk&t=131s
Alysa reflects on stepping away from the sport at a young age, trusting her intuition, and returning with a renewed sense of creativity, connection, and purpose. She opens up about self-expression through skating, fashion, and choreography, the importance of saying no to outside noise, and why “connection” is the word that grounds everything she does. Honest, thoughtful, and uniquely her, this conversation sets the tone for Frozen Waters—a closer look at the journeys, identities, and inner lives of Team USA figure skaters on the road to the Games.
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Amber's interview was uploaded earlier today (Feb. 18): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTSip0Jup8M&t=91s
Amber reflects on the pressure of performing under expectation, the milliseconds that separate success from mistake, and what it really takes to adjust in real time when things don’t go as planned. She opens up about embracing nerves instead of fighting them, staying grounded through rhythm and preparation, and why taking ownership of her artistry—from music to costumes to hair and makeup—has been central to her growth. Honest, self-assured, and fiercely resilient, this conversation continues the heart of Frozen Waters—a closer look at the journeys, identities, and inner lives of Team USA figure skaters on the road to the Games.
Click to expand...

I assume Isabeau's interview will be uploaded by tomorrow.
 
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clairecloutier said:
An interesting article on the larger cultural/LGBTQ significance of Amber skating to "Like a Prayer" in Milano:
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Madonna's message to Amber before her SP:
www.instagram.com

On Her Turf | Imagine you’re at the #WinterOlympics and knowing that MADONNA is rooting for you. 🤯 | Instagram

172K likes, 1,052 comments - onherturf on February 17, 2026: "Imagine you’re at the #WinterOlympics and knowing that MADONNA is rooting for you. 🤯".
www.instagram.com www.instagram.com

Laufey sent good luck to Alysa as well:
www.instagram.com

On Her Turf | When the voice behind the music sends love 💌 Alysa Liu gets a special Olympic good luck from Laufey! #WinterOlympics | Instagram

40K likes, 50 comments - onherturf on February 17, 2026: "When the voice behind the music sends love 💌 Alysa Liu gets a special Olympic good luck from Laufey! #WinterOlympics".
www.instagram.com www.instagram.com

NBC Philadelphia's Siobhan McGirl spoke to Isabeau in the mixed zone after her SP and the report that aired today included an interview clip featuring her coach, Yulia Kuznetsova: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwG-HIw26KA
 
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