Team USA's Olympic figure skating roster blends proven medal contenders and rising stars — Ilia Malinin is the prohibitive favorite for men's gold, Madison Chock and Evan Bates are strong bets in ice dance, and Alysa Liu is a top pick in the women's field. Punters may favor Malinin for outright gold and back Team USA in team/medal markets given the depth across disciplines.
U.S. Figure Skating Finalizes 16-Athlete Olympic Roster for Milan-Cortina
US Figure Skating named the 16 athletes who will represent Team USA at next month’s Milan-Cortina Olympics, pairing established champions with emerging talent. The roster includes Ilia Malinin, Maxim Naumov, Alysa Liu, Madison Chock and Evan Bates among others, consolidating American hopes across men's, women's, pairs and ice dance events.
Men’s Team: Malinin the Clear Favorite, Naumov’s Emotional Selection
Ilia Malinin, fresh off his fourth straight national title, enters the Games as the prohibitive favorite to capture men’s gold and carry forward the U.S. tradition set by Nathan Chen. He’ll be joined by Maxim Naumov — who earned his spot amid a moving backstory — and Andrew Torgashev. Naumov fulfilled a family dream after his parents, former world champions-turned-coaches, were killed last January when their plane collided with a military helicopter returning from Wichita, Kansas. “I would not be sitting here without the unimaginable work effort and love from my parents,” Naumov said. “I know they’re looking down, smiling and proud.”
Ice Dance: Chock and Bates Lead a Medal-Threat Duo
Madison Chock and Evan Bates, seven-time U.S. champions, are among the Olympic favorites in ice dance. The duo helped the Americans to team gold at Beijing and have captured multiple world titles and Grand Prix Finals since. Joining them are U.S. silver medalists Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik, and Christina Carreira with Anthony Ponomarenko — the team strengthened by Carreira’s recent U.S. citizenship eligibility.
Women’s Field: Alysa Liu Returns, Deep American Contenders
Alysa Liu was selected for her second Olympic team after briefly retiring post-Beijing and returning revitalized to win America’s first women’s world title in two decades. Her teammates include Amber Glenn, the three-time national champion, and 18-year-old Isabeau Levito, a former world silver medalist. Liu and Glenn, alongside Levito, form a deep U.S. group that could challenge for the first American women’s medal since 2006.
Pairs: Selection, Setbacks and Citizenship Issues
Pairs spots went to Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea, and Emily Chan with Spencer Howe. Two-time reigning U.S. champions Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov had hoped to join the team, but Efimova’s Finnish birthplace and a delayed U.S. passport application meant she did not receive citizenship in time for the selection deadline. The procedural setback left the reigning champions off the Olympic roster despite significant advocacy from their training club and political supporters.
Team Implications and Betting Outlook
Team USA arrives in Italy with medal chances across multiple events. Ilia Malinin projects as a heavy favorite in men’s outright markets; Chock and Bates are strong contenders in ice dance markets; the women’s event offers viable bets on Liu for a podium finish while Glenn and Levito provide value in medal prop markets. For team and medal markets, the depth across U.S. disciplines supports backing American chances, though international rivals—especially from Japan in the women’s field—remain formidable.
Selection Process and Final Thoughts
US Figure Skating emphasized the gravity of Olympic selection and the human elements that accompany rigid selection rules. The finalized roster balances proven winners and rising talent, aiming to maximize Team USA’s medal potential in Milan-Cortina. The emotional stories — from Naumov’s family legacy to Liu’s comeback — add narrative weight to a squad with serious competitive aspirations.
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US Figure Skating names team for Milan-CortinaNaumov’s parents were also OlympiansUS Figure Skating has confirmed the 16 athletes who will represent Team USA at the Milan-Cortina Games next month in Italy, including Maxim Naumov, who fulfilled the hopes of his late parents by making the Olympic team.Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova, who were world champions in pairs figure skating in 1994, became coaches at the Skating Club of Boston. Last January, they were returning from Wichita, Kansas, host of the 2025 US championships, along with 26 others connected to figure skating, when their plane collided with a military helicopter, killing everyone on board both aircraft. Continue reading...
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