2026 winter olympics women single skating free skating: Live updates as Alysa Liu, Amber Glenn and Isabeau Levito skate in Milan finale

At the Milan Cortina Winter Games, the women's free skate final promises drama, tight margins and the chance for major movement on the leaderboard. The session is scheduled to begin at 1 p. m. ET on Feb. 19, where the top contenders — including Alysa Liu, Amber Glenn and Isabeau Levito — will have four minutes to reshape the podium picture.

Standings, storyline and where the Americans sit

After the short program, Japan holds the top two spots with Ami Nakai and Kaori Sakamoto leading the pack. Alysa Liu sits third heading into the free skate, a position that places her firmly within striking distance of gold if she delivers one of the cleanest performances of the night. Isabeau Levito is positioned eighth and Amber Glenn sits 13th, both with realistic potential to climb if they nail their content and earn strong component scores.

What makes this final particularly volatile is how close the point totals are through the top 10. Small errors or an inspired clean skate can create major leaderboard shifts. That dynamic turns the free skate into less of a foregone conclusion and more of an open battle for every technical point and program component mark.

Expert perspective: skate with freedom, not fear

Tara Lipinski, the 1998 Olympic champion and longtime figure skating analyst, offered a clear message for the U. S. trio: skate free. She praised Liu’s ability to perform under pressure, calling it an asset that could separate her from other medal hopefuls. "She’s discovered how to skate under pressure in the way that she does — it’s otherworldly, " Lipinski said, noting that competitors who skate with abandon, joy and passion often emerge as Olympic champions.

Lipinski urged Levito and Glenn not to overthink the moment. Both have battled through long, difficult paths to reach the Olympic stage, and she emphasized that this four-minute performance is an opportunity to embrace the experience rather than be consumed by expectations. "They’re both warriors, " she said, adding that skating for themselves and enjoying center ice can lead to performances they’ll be proud of regardless of final placement.

What to watch in the free skate

Technically, the free skate will be defined by jump execution, spin levels and step sequence grades of execution. Liu’s quad and triple-triple haul will be under the microscope; clean landings and solid edge control can swing technical scores significantly. For Levito and Glenn, consistent jump cleanups, quality transitions and strong performance components can produce upward movement, especially if some higher-ranked skaters falter.

Beyond the elements, presentation will be decisive. Lipinski’s point about skaters who perform with "wild abandon" speaks to how judges reward program component scores for interpretation, performance and skating skills. A confident, emotionally engaged skate can amplify value beyond pure technical content and create the kind of memorable Olympic moment that resonates with judges and viewers alike.

The field also includes several skaters capable of large jumps and high artistic marks, so the podium is far from locked. Expect the top 10 to be a focal point; any competitor in that group has a shot to move up if they produce a clean free skate while rivals make mistakes.

For the Americans in particular, this final is a chance to prove depth and resilience. Liu arrives as a potential medal threat with a blend of athleticism and freedom. Levito and Glenn each have personal stories of adversity and triumph that make their Olympic appearances meaningful beyond medals. Together, they form a U. S. contingent that could make noise in the closing act of Milan's figure skating program.

The free skate at 1 p. m. ET on Feb. 19 will decide who walks away with Olympic medals and who misses by fractions of a point. In a competition this tight, every element, every connection and every moment of skating with conviction matters.