Bow Before the Blade Angels! Amber Glenn, Alysa Liu, and Isabeau Levito are Already the Best Part of the 2026 Winter Olympics

The 2026 Winter Olympics are officially here and I’m already obsessed with three American stars. Figure skaters Amber Glenn, Alysa Liu, and Isabeau Levito — better known as the “Blade Angels” — have had me in a chokehold ever since the three of them were named to Team USA last month. It’s not just that they are all exquisite skaters, incredible athletes, or incredibly quirky characters. Glenn, Liu, and Levito share a camaraderie we rarely see in young women pitted against each other in tense competition. The Blade Angels are badass besties who show up to support each other and then go and share each other’s goofy memes on social media. Their friendship is not just refreshing, but inspiring. Oh, and there’s actually a chance that one, two, or all three of them could make it to the Olympic podium.

The Blade Angels deserve it all: Medals, Wheaties boxes, and even their own cartoon.

Like so many other Winter Olympics fans, I remember falling hard for figure skating the first time I saw someone gracefully glide across the ice and defy gravity with a seemingly effortless twirl in the air. I can’t remember if my first ice princess was Katerina Witt or Kristi Yamaguchi, but I know that any illusions I had that figure skaters were angels were shattered when Nancy Kerrigan was assaulted in 1994. The media circus that spiraled, and the Tonya Harding of it all, made me realize that the crisp, clean ice of a rink could still be as grimy as the gutter.

Over the years, I’ve dipped in and out of following the sport, with the 2022 Winter Olympics marking yet another scandal-ridden women’s figure skating season. Russian prodigy Kamila Valieva was accused of doping, kickstarting a fierce international controversy. Although she was allowed to compete, she missed the podium and had her Team medal revoked. Her fellow Russian skaters took Gold and Silver, although second place finisher Alexandra Trusova was caught sobbing and cursing over the results. All three skaters were proteges of Eteri Tutberidze, a Georgian-Russian coach as renowned for producing world-class winners as she was infamous for pushing underage athletes to the edge, mentally and physically.

So when I tuned into the 2026 U.S. Championships and saw that this year’s Gold, Silver, and Bronze medalists weren’t just thrilled to make the podium, but overjoyed forever, I was floored. I was even more inspired when I realized that Amber Glenn, Alysa Liu, and Isabeau Levito all have strong, distinct personalities, sharply unique personal style, and ferocious strength on the ice. Their press conferences were hilarious. Their poise under pressure, inspiring. Their chemistry seemed tailor-made for a classic Toonami series or my new favorite Crunchyroll anime.

The Blade Angels are the figure skating heroines I wish I had growing up. So who are the Blade Angels? Meet Alysa Liu, Amber Glenn, and Isabeau Levito:

• Amber Glenn

  Age: 26

  Hometown: Plano, Texas

  Short Program: “Like a Prayer” by Madonna

  Long Program: “I Will Find You” by Audiomachine & “The Return” by CLANN

  Instagram: @amberglenniceskater

  Why She Rules: Amber Glenn is a literal Ice Skating Barbie; a queer, anime-loving, ADHD-tackling Barbie. Amber’s not only the cool big sister of the bunch, but also a game-changer for the sport. By owning her pansexuality, she is the first openly gay women’s single skater on Team USA. She also works hard to champion mental health awareness and volunteers at an animal shelter. She simply rules. 

• Alysa Liu

  Age: 20

  Hometown: Clovis, California

  Short Program: “Promise” by Laufey

  Long Program: Lady Gaga medley

  Instagram: @alysaxliu

  Why She Rules: Alysa Liu was a child prodigy, winning her first U.S. Championship at the tender age of 13. After burning out on the sport and retiring at 16, she staged her own comeback as a young adult. Now she’s rocking her signature halo hairstyle and smiley piercing in Milan Cortina, landing some of the hardest jumps in all of figure skating. (She’s also extremely chill, uttering a “true dat” earlier today during her judging for the Team Event.) She freaking rules.

• Isabeau Levito

  Age: 18

  Hometown: Mount Holly, New Jersey

  Short Program: Sophia Loren medley

  Long Program: “Se” from Ennio Morricone’s score for Cinema Paradiso

  Instagram: @isabeau.levito

  Why She Rules: Isabeau Levito — literally named after Michelle Pfieffer in Ladyhawke (!!!) — appears at first glance to be your traditional ice princess thanks to her classic style. However, the Philly-area native is one tough cookie and probably Team USA’s de facto guide on the ground in Italy. (Her mother is literally from Italy.) She absolutely rules.