"Levito and the United States' "Blade Angels" are trying to stay calm under pressure at the Olympics, where chaos has reigned at Milano Ice Skating Arena. The United States was expected to dominate figure skating in Milan, but has yet to win a gold medal in an individual event entering Tuesday's women's short program. A supposed sure-fire gold medal disappeared in stunning fashion with Ilia Malinin's eighth-place collapse."
"But the talent and depth on what is likely the best U.S. women's Olympic team in decades could help end a 20-year Olympic medal drought in women's singles skating. The last U.S. woman to stand on an Olympic podium for an individual event was Sasha Cohen in 2006. Sarah Hughes' 2002 gold medal was the last for the United States in women's singles."
"The reigning world champion was the first U.S. woman to win the world title since 2006. With blonde horizontal stripes dyed into her black hair and a piercing in her upper lip, the 20-year-old Liu is putting an alternative spin on figure skating. Three-time national champion Amber Glenn combines power in her triple axel with emotion on the ice. Levito, the 2024 world silver medalist, is the classic balletic skater who packs a humorous punch behind her teenage smile."
Isabeau Levito is focused on small personal concerns while preparing for a major competition, including a mold problem in her room. The U.S. women's team, dubbed the 'Blade Angels', faces pressure amid chaotic events at Milano Ice Skating Arena. Expectations for U.S. dominance have not yet translated into an individual Olympic gold, with notable disappointments like Ilia Malinin's eighth-place result and judging controversies affecting ice dance. The team's depth and talent, including world champion Alysa Liu, Amber Glenn and Levito, provide diverse styles and potential to end a two-decade Olympic singles medal drought.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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