In a stunning display of athleticism and artistry, two-time defending champion Amber Glenn has seized the lead at the US Figure Skating Championships by setting a new national record for the women's short program. Her score of 83.05 points on Wednesday night narrowly eclipsed the mark set just minutes earlier by world champion Alysa Liu, setting up a thrilling finale for the free skate.
Record-Breaking Performances Headline Opening Night
The competition at the Enterprise Center in St Louis reached a fever pitch as the top American skaters delivered career-best performances. Alysa Liu, the 20-year-old world champion, had electrified the crowd with a score of 81.11 points, breaking the existing record and earning a standing ovation. However, her time at the top was brief.
Taking the ice immediately after, the 26-year-old Glenn delivered a flawless routine set to Madonna's 'Like A Prayer'. She opened with a confident triple axel and executed a complex triple flip-triple toe loop combination, culminating in a powerful finishing spin. Her coach, Damon Allen, greeted her rinkside with an embrace as the audience rose to its feet once more.
"I knew that I came here to do my job," Glenn stated afterwards. "I felt a responsibility to keep it going better and better." She also shared an emotional tribute, saying, "My grandma passed last year... I felt like I had something help me today."
Olympic Spots Hang in the Balance
This year's national championships serve as the final selection event for the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. The US Figure Skating officials will announce the team on Sunday, adding immense pressure to every performance.
Isabeau Levito, the 2023 champion, sits in third place with 75.72 points, making a strong return after missing last year's event due to injury. Meanwhile, Alysa Liu's remarkable comeback continues. After stepping away from the sport due to burnout following a sixth-place finish at the Beijing Games, she is now a leading contender to end the United States' gold medal drought in women's figure skating, which has persisted since Sarah Hughes triumphed in 2002.
"I'm really happy with the lutz," Liu remarked about her triple lutz-triple loop combination. "That was real good."
Pairs Leaders Await Citizenship Decision
Earlier in the evening, the pairs competition began with defending champions Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov taking a commanding lead. They scored a season-best 75.31 points with a near-perfect short program, placing them nearly eight points ahead of their closest rivals.
However, their Olympic hopes are clouded by a citizenship issue. While Mitrofanov is American-born, Efimova was born in Finland. Despite their marriage in early 2024 and her approved green card, she is still awaiting a US decision on waiving the standard three-year waiting period for citizenship, which is required to compete at the Olympics.
"We're hoping maybe a last-minute miracle might happen," Mitrofanov admitted, acknowledging the tight deadline before Sunday's team announcement.
The championships continue on Thursday with the start of the ice dance competition and the men's short program, as skaters make their final push for Olympic selection.
