A new era of American women’s figure skating has arrived at the 2026 Winter Olympics, and it looks nothing like the traditional “ice princess” archetype.
Leading the charge are Amber Glenn, Alysa Liu and Isabeau Levito — three distinct personalities who have embraced the nickname “Blade Angels” as they pursue Olympic gold in Milan.
Confident, outspoken and unapologetically individual, the trio represents a generational shift in both image and attitude for United States figure skating team.
Breaking the Mold
For decades, American women’s skating has often been associated with polished presentation and youthful innocence. Glenn, Liu and Levito are redefining that narrative.
Glenn, 26, is a three-time U.S. champion whose career resurgence has defied the sport’s traditional timeline. Open about her struggles with mental health, an eating disorder and ADHD, she has also emerged as a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. Glenn identifies as pansexual and has said she intends to use her Olympic platform to speak on issues that matter to her.
Her candor — including comments about politics and social issues — has made her both admired and criticized. Yet she arrives in Milan as part of the gold medal-winning U.S. team event squad and a legitimate contender in the individual competition.
“I’ve been through a lot to get here,” Glenn said earlier in the Games, reflecting on nearly stepping away from skating in her late teens. “Now I’m competing because I love it again.”
Alysa Liu’s Remarkable Comeback
Liu’s path back to the Olympics has been equally unconventional.
A teenage prodigy who competed at the Beijing Games, Liu retired at 16, burned out by elite competition and the spotlight. She stepped away from skating entirely, enrolling at UCLA and exploring life outside the rink — from travel to academic pursuits in psychology.
Two years later, she returned with renewed purpose. The comeback culminated in the first world title for an American woman in nearly 20 years and a return to the Olympic stage.
Now 20, Liu embraces a bold personal style, including striped hair symbolizing growth and reinvention. “I do things for myself now,” she has said, describing a newfound sense of autonomy after years of intense training.
Levito’s Dual Persona
At 18, Levito may appear closest to the traditional skating aesthetic — poised, elegant and technically refined. But away from the cameras, teammates describe her as sharp-witted and disarmingly candid.
Born to an Italian mother and competing in her ancestral homeland, Levito balances composure on the ice with a playful, sarcastic personality off it. She has spoken about carefully managing her public image, aware of how quickly narratives can form in the digital age.
Despite their stylistic differences, Levito says their shared ambition unites them. “We’re all different, but we want the same things,” she noted during the Games.
A New Generation of Role Models
The “Blade Angels” moniker — inspired by the pop culture trio “Charlie’s Angels” — reflects both camaraderie and defiance. The skaters rejected lighter, trademark-risking nicknames in favor of something that better captured their edge.
Beyond medals, the trio symbolizes broader changes within figure skating. Conversations about mental health, identity and athlete autonomy — once whispered — are now central to the sport’s evolution.
Their performances in Milan also carry significant weight. American figure skating has endured an uneven Olympics, making the women’s singles event a final opportunity to restore momentum.
Whether or not they sweep the podium, Glenn, Liu and Levito have already reshaped the image of U.S. women’s figure skating — powerful, outspoken and unafraid to be fully themselves.
