Japan Dominates Short Program While U.S. Skaters Slip, Glenn Falls to 13th
Updated (6 articles)
Japanese Skaters Capture Top Spots in Short Program Ami Nakai led the women’s short program with a season‑best 78.71 points, followed by teammate Kaori Sakamoto at 77.23 and Mone Chiba at 74.00, giving Japan three of the four leading positions and positioning the team for a possible podium sweep [2][3][1].
U.S. Women Show Mixed Results, Liu Leads Americans Reigning world champion Alysa Liu posted 76.59 points, placing third overall and ahead of most competitors, while Isabeau Levito earned 70.84 points for an eighth‑place finish; both secured free‑skate berths [1][2][4].
Amber Glenn’s Error Ends Medal Prospects Glenn landed a triple axel but missed a subsequent triple loop, receiving zero points for the element and finishing with 67.39 points, which dropped her to 13th and eliminated any chance of a medal [1][4][2].
Neutral Russian Adeliia Petrosian Performs Strongly Competing under the IOC’s neutral flag, 18‑year‑old Adeliia Petrosian earned 72.89 points for a fifth‑place finish, delivering a clean program that drew both applause and boos from the audience [2][3][4].
Social Media and Media Narrative Highlight U.S.–Japan Gap Reddit users and commentators noted Japan’s deeper women’s field, collective training culture, and lighter media pressure compared with the United States, where athletes face intense scrutiny and mental‑health concerns [1].
Sources
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1.
Newsweek: Amber Glenn’s Olympic Slip Highlights US‑Japan Figure Skating Gap – Analyzes Glenn’s aborted jump, U.S. teammates’ scores, Japan’s dominance, and Reddit commentary on cultural differences .
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2.
AP: Japanese Skaters Lead While U.S. Team Falters in Olympic Short Program – Details Nakai’s career‑best, Liu’s personal narrative, errors by Levito and Glenn, and Petrosian’s neutral‑athlete status .
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3.
BBC: Japan Leads Women’s Figure Skating Short Program as Ami Nakai Wins – Reports Japan’s sweep of top spots, Liu’s third place, Glenn’s fall, Petrosian’s fifth‑place performance, and Britain’s retiring skater .
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4.
King5: U.S. “Blade Angels” Post Strong Scores in Olympic Short Program – Highlights Liu’s leading U.S. score, Levito’s solid showing, Glenn’s triple axel and missed element, and the trio’s “Blade Angels” branding .
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Timeline
1927 – Amber Glenn becomes the oldest U.S. ladies’ singles skater to qualify for the Olympics, a milestone not seen since 1927, underscoring the rarity of her achievement in American figure‑skating history[4].
2002 – Sarah Hughes remains the last American woman to win Olympic gold in figure skating, a benchmark that U.S. athletes still chase in Milan 2026[4].
2005 – Michelle Kwan last completes a three‑peat of U.S. titles, a feat Amber Glenn matches in 2026, highlighting the historic significance of Glenn’s third straight championship[5].
2023 – Alysa Liu captures the World Championship, establishing her as a recent world champion and a key contender for Olympic gold[4].
2025 – A mid‑air plane crash kills Maxim Naumov’s parents, prompting him to rebuild his coaching team and later win bronze at the U.S. Championships, securing an Olympic berth[2].
2025 – Danny O’Shea competes at the World Championships despite a broken foot, demonstrating the resilience of U.S. pair skaters heading into Milan[2].
2025 – The IOC bans Russian athletes from competing under their flag; Adeliia Petrosian skates as a neutral athlete (AIN) and later posts a strong short‑program score in Milan[4].
2025 – Japan’s national championships are described as a “bloodbath,” a cultural factor that many observers cite as contributing to the depth of the Japanese women’s field at the Olympics[3].
2025 – Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov’s citizenship waiver fails, jeopardizing their Olympic participation and forcing U.S. officials to consider alternative pairs selections[2][5].
Jan 10, 2026 – Amber Glenn wins her third consecutive U.S. title with a 233.55‑point free skate, becoming the first skater to repeat the feat since Michelle Kwan in 2005 and positioning her as a leading medal hopeful for Milan; Alysa Liu takes silver and Isabeau Levito bronze, completing the U.S. women’s podium[5].
Jan 12, 2026 – The U.S. Olympic team is announced: Maxim Naumov earns a bronze and an Olympic spot after overcoming personal tragedy; Ilia Malinin secures his fourth U.S. title with a quad‑heavy program; Alysa Liu returns from retirement to claim a world title and joins the women’s team; Amber Glenn, Alysa Liu and Isabeau Levito headline the U.S. women’s roster; Efimova/Mitrofanov are omitted due to citizenship issues; Danny O’Shea debuts despite a broken foot, and Spencer Howe serves in the Army while competing in pairs[2].
Feb 17, 2026 – In the Olympic short program, Ami Nakai leads with a season‑best 78.71, Kaori Sakamoto follows with 77.23, and Alysa Liu places third with 76.59; Amber Glenn falls to 13th after a missed triple loop, Isabeau Levito lands eighth, and neutral‑flagged Adeliia Petrosian posts 72.89, while Japan occupies three of the top four spots, setting up a potential podium sweep[1][4].
Feb 17, 2026 – The U.S. trio adopts the “Blade Angels” nickname after rejecting trademark‑sensitive alternatives; Liu leads the American trio with 76.59 points, Levito posts 70.84, and Glenn records 67.39 after a missed element, positioning the group as a new role model for U.S. girls in the sport[6].
Feb 17, 2026 – Amber Glenn’s aborted jump eliminates her from medal contention, sparking Reddit debate over U.S. media pressure versus Japan’s support system; Liu emphasizes that her goal is to share her personal story rather than chase the Japanese skaters, highlighting differing athlete mindsets[3].
Feb 18, 2026 (Thursday) – The top 24 skaters advance to the free skate; Japan’s depth, including Mone Chiba’s 74.00, positions the team for a possible sweep, while the free‑skate segment will determine the final Olympic medals[1][4].
Feb 18, 2026 (next Olympic day) – Alysa Liu and Isabeau Levito remain in medal contention after the short program, while Amber Glenn must regroup without podium prospects, setting the stage for the decisive free‑skate performances[3].
All related articles (6 articles)
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Newsweek: Amber Glenn’s Olympic Slip Highlights US‑Japan Figure Skating Gap
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AP: Japanese Skaters Lead While U.S. Team Falters in Olympic Short Program
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BBC: Japan Leads Women’s Figure Skating Short Program as Ami Nakai Wins
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King5 (Seattle, WA): U.S. “Blade Angels” Post Strong Scores in Olympic Short Program
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CNN: U.S. figure skaters head to Milan with champions and a tragedy survivor
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AP: Glenn wins third straight U.S. figure skating title as Olympic team picture tightens
External resources (10 links)
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- https://scboston.org/tomorrows-champions/ (cited 1 times)
- https://usfigureskating.org/news/2025/11/5/features-spencer-howe-serving-his-country-while-chasing-skating-dreams.aspx (cited 1 times)
- https://www.nbcolympics.com/news/us-ice-dancers-emilea-zingas-and-vadym-kolesnik-are-here-stay (cited 1 times)
- https://www.teamkamoshea.com/our-story (cited 1 times)
- https://www.wdsu.com/article/amber-glenn-figure-skating-comeback/63516803#:~:text=Amber%20Glenn%20has%20fought%20through,champion%20for%20the%20LGBTQ%20community. (cited 1 times)