isabeau levito Olympic debut: short program score, background and what’s next
Isabeau Levito skated her first Olympic short program inside Milano Ice Skating Arena on Tuesday, Feb. 17, and left the field with a solid showing. The 18-year-old posted a 70. 84 that put her eighth among 29 competitors and earned her a place among the top 20 who will move on to Thursday's free skate.
Olympic short program: the performance and immediate result
Levito performed to a two-song medley that combined the standards of classic pop and vintage charm, delivering a routine that judges scored 70. 84. That total placed her eighth after the short program round, a position that advances her to the free skate phase later in the competition. She drew loud support from the crowd while skating in what was described as her mother's hometown arena, and she said afterward that she was happy with both the way she skated and the atmosphere.
Levito skated in the fifth and final group of six during the short program, a block that included her U. S. teammates Amber Glenn and Alysa Liu. The trio — embraced by fans with the nickname the "Blade Angels" — took the ice at 12: 45 p. m. ET on Tuesday in the session that kicked off American hopes in the individual women's event.
Who is Levito: age, achievements and skating style
Now 18, Levito is one of the youngest members of the U. S. roster yet already carries significant international credentials. She is the 2024 world silver medalist and earned the U. S. national title in 2023. Born in Philadelphia and raised in Mount Holly, New Jersey, Levito has built a reputation for smooth transitions, technical strength and strong musical interpretation — qualities that have invited comparisons to celebrated skaters of the past.
Off the ice, she has been candid about enjoying the Olympic Village experience, telling teammates and staff that "you can't evict me" after spending every night there and calling the lead-up to her debut "the best time. " That sense of ease and confidence appeared to translate to her Olympic short program, where she balanced risk and polish under the bright lights.
Outlook: advancing to the free skate and the broader picture for Team USA
Levito's placement in the top 20 assures her a slot in Thursday's free skate, where she will have the opportunity to climb the leaderboard and contend for an Olympic medal. The American contingent has broader hopes beyond the team gold already secured: the individual women's podium has eluded a U. S. skater for two decades. The last American woman to podium in an individual Olympic event was in 2006, and the last to win Olympic gold in women's singles did so in 2002. Levito, alongside Glenn and Liu, now carries part of the responsibility to try to end that drought.
Her short program showed both the technical base and the performance quality that could support a strong free skate. The next phase will test her consistency under pressure and whether she can convert qualification momentum into podium contention. For now, Levito leaves the short program with a respectable position, a clear path forward and a roster of credentials that make her one of the skaters to watch as the competition progresses.
