isabeau levito relishes Olympic Village life and delivers solid short program in Milan
Isabeau Levito has been in full celebration mode at the 2026 Winter Olympics, embracing the Olympic Village lifestyle while stepping onto the ice for her Olympic debut. The 18-year-old posted a composed short program at Milano Ice Skating Arena on Tuesday, Feb. 17, finishing with a 70. 84 and securing a spot among the top 20 to move on to the free skate later this week.
Living it up in the Olympic Village
Levito has made the most of her time away from the competition rink. She said she has spent every night in the Olympic Village and joked that "you can’t evict me, " a quip that captures how at ease she feels in the Games environment. The American described the experience as "everything and more, " noting that even before competing she felt she was having "the best time. "
That relaxed, grounded mindset has been visible in her demeanor — she has said she feels exactly where she wants to be and is grateful that things aligned to allow her to compete on the Olympic stage. Her social bio also reinforces that connection to the Village, offering a playful reminder that the event has become part of her identity during these Games.
Short program debut and what comes next
On Tuesday, Levito performed a short program that combined two songs, "Almost in Your Arms" and "Zou Bisou Bisou, " and earned a total of 70. 84. That score placed her eighth among 29 skaters after the short program phase, comfortably inside the top 20 who advance to the free skate scheduled for Thursday. She performed in the final group of six skaters for the short program, which took the ice at 12: 45 p. m. ET, and said she was pleased with both her skate and the crowd support.
Technically, Levito remains a strong presence on the ice. She is known for smooth transitions, a polished sense of musical interpretation and the kind of technical repertoire that has drawn comparisons to past U. S. greats. Those attributes helped her become the 2024 world silver medalist and the 2023 national champion in the United States — credentials that set expectations high in Milan.
Advancing from the short program gives Levito the chance to push for a podium finish in the free skate. With the top 20 moving on, the coming days will test how she handles Olympic pressure when medals are truly on the line. Her upbeat attitude in the Village, combined with a composed short program performance, suggests she is approaching that test with confidence rather than nerves.
For now, Levito is balancing the joy of being at the Games with the focus required to compete. Whether she continues to savor Village life or channels every ounce of that good energy into her free skate, she has made a clear first impression: an Olympian who can enjoy the moment while competing at a high level.
