The “Blade Angels” are Redefining Figure Skating

Alysa Liu performing during the women's free skate at the 2026 U.S. National Championships. Photo by SpiritedMichelle via Wikimedia Commons.

While the United States remains in a raw and tense political atmosphere, the women of Team USA made history at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics and showcased a great sense of pride.

Out of the 12 gold medals won throughout the games by Team USA, eight were won by women. Not only did this break the record for most medals and most gold medals won by Team USA at a single Winter Games, but these women are inspiring the young women at home watching. 

Among those representing Team USA are the now-famous “Blade Angels” –  Amber Glenn, Alysa Liu and Isabeau Levito. 

These women are redefining the world of figure skating, appealing to a younger and bolder generation who are willing to break down the barriers of often toxic and harmful athletic standards.

Amber Glenn is the reigning US champion, winning three consecutive national titles in 2024, 2025 and 2026. At 26-years-old, Glenn is the oldest U.S. women’s figure skater to make the Olympic team since 1928.

Challenging the women’s figure skating age standards, Glenn proved in her Olympic debut that women who are in the later stages of their careers can become champions, winning gold in the team event. 

Glenn is the first openly LGBTQ+ woman to represent the U.S. in singles figure skating. She uses her platform to advocate for queer rights, often wearing pride pins and skating with the pride flag. She speaks out against the rising anti-LGTQ+ sentiment from this current administration.

“I hope I can use my platform and my voice throughout these games to try and encourage people to stay strong in these hard times,” Glenn told USA Today. “It is something that I will not  just be quiet about because it is something that affects us in our everyday lives.”

Growing up in Plano, Texas, Glenn started skating at just five-years-old. She quickly grew love for the sport as she became more skilled and confident on the ice. 

But her rise to fame was not without its challenges. After winning the U.S. junior championship in 2014, Glenn took a break from skating. She opened up about struggling with an eating disorder and depression, and sought help at an inpatient facility. 

With constant scrutiny from judges and coaches, eating disorders and other mental health problems are common in figure skating. Glenn now uses her platform to advocate for mental health awareness, trying to change the environment young girls step into. 

“At one point, I hated it,” Glenn told The Associated Press. “But I’ve seen the people around me grow, and how the environment of figure skating has changed, and how we’re trying to change it.” 

Next, there is Alysa Liu. At just 20-years-old, Liu won gold in the women’s singles figure skating, making her the first U.S. woman to win in her sport since 2002. 

Liu was raised in Oakland, California, by her single father, Arthur Liu. After emigrating from China, he had Liu and four other children with surrogate mothers using anonymous egg donors. 

Liu was introduced to the world of figure skating at five-years-old. Having natural talent for the sport, her childhood was centered around perfecting herself on the ice. 

She became the youngest U.S. women’s champion in 2019 when she landed three triple axels at the Detroit national championships. She was the first U.S. woman to do so, and she was only 13. Liu also helped Team USA win a bronze medal in the team event at the 2022 Beijing Olympics. 

With these titles tucked under her belt, Liu announced her retirement at 16. Her entire life revolved around skating and she decided to find comfort and happiness in a normal teenage life. She studies psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles, and spends her time with friends and family. 

But after going on a casual ski trip in 2024 and being energized by the rush of speed going down a mountain, Liu’s competitive spark reignited, sending her headfirst into the competition. However, she knew she needed to compete on her own terms.

Rather than letting the pressure of being an athlete consume her, Liu lets her passion and personality shine through her performances. 

Showcasing her striped hair and piercings at the Olympics, Liu is challenging the ultra-feminine typecast for women's figure skaters. She has proved that dressing how you want and being herself unapologetically does not hinder her skills. 

“I made a deal with my coaches: No one tells me what I’m gonna wear. No one tells me how my hair is gonna be. No one’s gonna try to change me. I’m going to pick my own programs and skate the sessions I want to skate,” Liu told Cosmopolitan.

Fans have been expressing their gratitude to Liu for representing young, alternative women in a sport that has been associated with a soft, quiet look. She is changing the environment for future generations, showing young girls that being yourself will shine like gold. 

Completing this powerhouse trio is Isabeau Levito. She is only 18-years-old and has already received the titles of 2024 world silver medalist and 2023 U.S. national champion.

Born in Philadelphia and raised in Mount Holly, New Jersey, Levito has become one of the leading skaters of the region. Her mother, Chiara Levito, immigrated from Milan to the U.S. in 1997. 

Levito started skating at 3-years-old. Transfixed by the 2010 Olympics and imitating the skaters she saw on her TV, her mother decided to enroll her in a weekend skating class. By her pre-teens, she was already competing in the national junior events, becoming the World Junior Champion in 2022. 

She is known for her artistic style and attention to musicality, with her performances being about telling a story rather than just the sport itself. 

Levito finds her inspiration in ballet, fashion and even literature. Trying to portray an angelic quality about her style, Levito states how she desires the “ice princess image.”

Her passion for the sport brought her all the way to the 2026 Winter Olympics, where she continued to promote her grace and fluidity on the ice. 

These three women not only hold national titles, but they also hold the attention of fans and aspiring young skaters alike. They are changing the landscape of women’s figure skating and challenging the ideas that one must look and act a certain way to find success in the sport. 

They are bringing inclusivity into competitive figure skating, making space for LGBTQ+ people, those who suffer with mental health issues and people who think they need to hide their personalities to fit in. 

The “Blade Angels” are paving the way for future generations while making a name for themselves on their own terms.