Isabeau Levito keeps cool as U.S. women chase Olympic breakthrough
Isabeau Levito has kept a clear head amid the chaos at the Milano Ice Skating Arena, focusing on the small tasks while the stakes rise. The teenage world silver medalist is part of a deep U. S. women’s contingent that arrives in Milan with heavy expectations and a chance to end a two-decade Olympic drought in individual women’s singles.
Calm in the eye of the storm
On the eve of the short program, Levito’s biggest logistical worry was mold on a plant in her hotel room. “That’s our task of the day, ” she said with a laugh — a telling moment that underscored how she has insulated herself from external pressure. The short program for the women begins Tuesday, Feb. 17 at 6: 45 p. m. ET at Milano Ice Skating Arena, and Levito’s composed approach has become a hallmark of her preparation.
Her demeanor is a deliberate counterpoint to a week of upsets and controversy at the arena, where favorites have faltered and medal outcomes have been unpredictable. The larger U. S. team has felt that turbulence, but Levito and her teammates have leaned into a collective calm. Teammates describe the group as diverse in style and temperament — a mix that Levito values. “I really like that we’re all so different, ” she said. “We have our own strengths and our own personalities and our own ways we want to look and appear. … We all have the same passion for the sport and have very aligned goals of wanting to do our best, and once we do that, we’re all happy, regardless of who beat who. ”
Style, substance and medal pressure
Levito’s skating is often described as classic and balletic, yet she brings a modern, grounded presence off the ice. The U. S. women’s team arrives with rare depth: multiple world champions and a trio of legitimate medal threats. That concentration of talent raises both expectations and scrutiny; the United States has not stood on the Olympic podium in the women’s singles event since the mid-2000s, and the pressure to change that narrative is real.
While other high-profile performances at the arena have taken dramatic turns, Levito has focused on routine and rhythm. The team’s dynamic — nicknamed playfully with references to pop culture and team identity — has become a source of resilience. Levito’s ability to laugh at a minor problem, then pivot back to concentration, reflects a maturity that belies her years. Search interest in isabeau levito has spiked as the Games enter a decisive phase, but she has shown an appetite for the moment rather than a fear of it.
What to watch in Milan
Expect Levito to lean on fundamentals: clean edges, musicality and controlled centers of gravity. In a field where technical leaps and raw power can decide medals, her balletic lines and consistency could be the difference in a tight short program. The U. S. team’s previous success in the team event has already raised the bar; sustaining that form across the individual competition requires managing adrenaline and a long Olympic schedule.
Beyond results, Levito’s presence speaks to a broader shift in the sport. The American women in Milan represent varied looks, approaches and backstories, and Levito’s own calm, composed leadership reinforces that diversity as a strength rather than a distraction. As the short program looms on Tuesday at 6: 45 p. m. ET, all eyes will be on how she channels that poised energy when the lights come up.
Whatever the outcome, Levito’s steadying influence and lighthearted pragmatism — whether addressing moldy plants or Olympic pressure — have already become an asset for a U. S. team desperate to turn potential into medals in Milan.
