2026 winter olympics women single skating free skating: Liu, Levito and Glenn Headline Final Showdown in Milan

Milano Cortina’s grand finale for the women’s figure skating event reaches its climax on Feb. 19, with the free skating segment beginning at 1 p. m. ET. The short program left the leaderboard tightly bunched, setting up a high-stakes free skate where technical ambition and composure under pressure will decide Olympic medals.

Standings and immediate stakes before the free skate

Heading into the free skate, Japan occupies the top two slots, with Ami Nakai and Kaori Sakamoto leading the field. Alysa Liu sits third after the short program, putting her within striking distance of gold if she can deliver a clean, high-scoring free skate. Team USA’s other contenders — Isabeau Levito and Amber Glenn — are currently eighth and 13th, respectively, each carrying distinct storylines into the final four minutes on the ice.

The margins are slim enough that movement in the standings is likely; several skaters inside the top 10 have the technical toolkit and component scores to vault into medal contention with an aggressive, error-free performance. Expect skaters to balance quad attempts, triple axels and program components carefully, because a single fall or under-rotation can swing podium positions dramatically.

What to watch in the free skate

Technical content will dominate headlines: jump layouts featuring quads and triple axels, combinations, and the risk-reward choices each athlete makes. Execution will matter as much as ambition — clean landings and fully rotated jumps produce the base value and Grade of Execution that separate medalists from also-rans.

Beyond jumps, the program components — skating skills, transitions, performance and interpretation — will play a decisive role. One of the defining images of recent seasons has been skaters who skate with visible freedom and joy; that quality can lift component scores and sway judges when technical tallies are close. That sense of freedom, coupled with precision, is a proven formula for Olympic success.

For Alysa Liu, the pathway to an Olympic medal runs through a clean, composed free skate matched with energetic, expressive presentation. Liu’s capacity to skate with “wild abandon” and maintain control under pressure makes her a legitimate threat to climb from third to the top of the podium if the leading skaters falter.

Team narratives and individual focus

The U. S. trio — Liu, Levito and Glenn — has drawn attention for different reasons. Levito’s technical maturity and growing performance presence place her in a position to make moves if she delivers her strongest free skate yet. Glenn, farther down the standings, appears unfazed by placement and is expected to skate with personal pride and a focus on delivering an Olympic moment she can be proud of.

Coaches and veterans have emphasized one recurring theme for athletes in this situation: skate for yourself. The Olympic arena magnifies expectation, but skaters who tap into the joy of the moment and manage nerves often leave the ice satisfied regardless of placement. For many competitors, leaving Milan with the memory of a spirited, wholehearted performance will be as meaningful as any medal.

The free skate will not only decide individual medals but also close a chapter on storylines that have defined the season — rising young talents challenging established names, and skaters translating technical ambition into Olympic-sized artistry. With the field so compact, the next four minutes for each athlete could rewrite careers.

Live updates will follow as the free skate unfolds, documenting each major moment, element call and score swing from this decisive Olympic final.