isabeau levito among U.S. trio set for women's free skate showdown at Milan Cortina
The final chapter of women's figure skating at the Milan Cortina Winter Games arrives on Thursday, Feb. 19, with the free skate—the long program—that will decide Olympic medals. After the short program the leaderboard is led by a breakout Japanese teenager, with veteran and U. S. contenders close behind. Team USA will send three skaters into the free skate, nicknamed the "Blade Angels, " and all three figure to be central to the drama.
What the short program left on the table
The short program shook up expectations: a high‑energy, technically daring outing propelled a 17‑year‑old Japanese skater into first place, while a seasoned compatriot who has signaled this will be her final competitive season sits directly behind her. World champion Alysa Liu is third after a polished short program that showcased her trademark speed and signature content. The standings make for a tight podium picture heading into the long program, where a strong free skate can vault a skater many positions up the results sheet.
Team USA’s three qualifiers—Alysa Liu, Amber Glenn and isabeau levito—are being watched closely. Liu carries momentum from a world championship-winning season and has been mentioned as a genuine medal contender if she reproduces her best free‑skate form. Glenn suffered a costly error in the short program when a planned triple was doubled, leaving her in 13th, but she has previously demonstrated the technical depth to climb the ranks with a clean long program. isabeau levito will skate with a trio of American teammates' hopes on her shoulders as the free program opens opportunities for major leaderboard movement.
Key players and possible shakeups in the long program
The long program historically produces the biggest swings. Several skaters outside the immediate top three possess the technical tools—most notably the potential to attempt multiple quadruple jumps—that could rearrange the podium. One skater in the top five has been linked to ambitious quad plans that, if landed cleanly, would put her squarely in gold contention. Others, including a couple of strong, consistent skaters from Japan and a skater with a history of peaking at major events, could also force dramatic changes if they deliver near‑perfect free skates.
For the Americans, the path is clear but challenging: Liu must hit her combinations and presentation to stay in medal range; Glenn needs a bounce‑back clean showing to climb; and isabeau levito must combine solid technical elements with emotional connection to impress the judges and gain ground. In short, nothing is decided until the last skater falls silent and the judges finish their marks.
When the action starts and what to expect Thursday
Competition day begins with warm‑ups in the late morning and the women's free skate set to commence at 1 p. m. ET on Thursday, Feb. 19. A full telecast of the long program will air then, with an additional re‑airing scheduled late that night at 1: 30 a. m. ET. The long program will present each skater with a roughly four‑to‑five minute canvas to combine jumps, spins and choreography into a medal‑deciding performance. Expect dramatic music choices, high risk technical attempts, and emotional farewells from veterans who have earmarked this season as their last.
This final event of the sport at these Games promises a definitive conclusion to weeks of competition: podium positions are within reach for several skaters, but the free skate is where Olympic stories are written. Team USA’s trio, including isabeau levito, will be front and center in that race for hardware and national pride.
