isabeau levito posts composed Olympic short as Amber Glenn is emotional after costly mistake
In a dramatic opening to the women’s singles short program at the Winter Olympics in Milan on Feb. 17, 2026 (ET), Isabeau Levito delivered a polished outing that placed her among the top contenders, while teammate Amber Glenn saw a promising medal bid slip away after a late, costly error. The field remains tight heading into the free skate on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026 (ET).
Levito’s composed Olympic debut lifts her into the top 10
Levito made her Olympic debut with a routine that drew praise for its clean spins, long extensions and confident presence on the ice. The performance, which delighted the local crowd in Milan, left Levito sitting eighth after the short program. Observers noted her strong fundamentals and composure under pressure — qualities that will be critical when the free skate arrives on Thursday.
With a grandmother in the host city, Levito had an emotional backdrop to her first Olympic outing, but she channeled that energy into steady footwork and quality transitions. While she did not post one of the top short-program scores of the day, her technical base value and performance components set her up to challenge for higher placement in the free skate.
Glenn nails a triple axel but a bailout costs her dearly
Amber Glenn, a three-time reigning national champion and part of the American trio known for athletic programs, landed a massive triple axel early in her routine — one of the hardest jumps in women’s skating. The success on that element had briefly put her within reach of the podium.
Late in the program, however, Glenn attempted a triple loop that unraveled into a bailout. The element was downgraded to a double loop and ultimately marked invalid, yielding no points for that planned jump. The error cost her an estimated seven to eight points and effectively extinguished her medal chances. Glenn posted a short-program score of 67. 39, placing her 13th at the conclusion of the segment.
Skating off the ice visibly shaken, Glenn clutched her chest and told her coach, "I had it. " She later offered a candid social-media message, writing, "The world has ended for me many times and yet tomorrow still comes. Keep going, " alongside a lighter image. The U. S. contingent will look to her resilience in the free skate, where a strong long program could still lift her placement.
Medal picture, team momentum and what to watch next
The short program left the podium picture led by two Japanese skaters, with Alysa Liu sitting as the best-placed American in third. Liu’s short brought difficult jump combinations and an air of calm that has her in prime position heading into Thursday’s free skate. The U. S. still has a realistic shot at a singles medal, but the margin for error is razor-thin.
Team competition earlier in the Games also played a role in shaping expectations. A dominant men’s singles showing from a fellow American helped the team capture gold, offering a morale boost that this women’s squad will hope to build on. With the free skate scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026 (ET), attention now turns to stamina, jump execution under pressure and the ability to convert technical ambitions into clean, scoring runs.
For Levito, Glenn and their teammate who remains in podium contention, the coming two days will test both physical readiness and mental recovery. The short program set the stage; the free skate will determine who emerges when the medals are decided later this week.
