At a Glance
- Team USA finalized a 16-member figure-skating roster Sunday after the nationals in St. Louis
- Three returning Olympians and 13 first-timers will compete in ice dance, pairs, and singles
- Four skaters have direct ties to Southern California
- Why it matters: Local fans will have hometown athletes to cheer when the Winter Games open Feb. 6 in Milan-Cortina
Southern California connections run deep on the newly announced U.S. Olympic figure-skating team. The squad, confirmed after the 2026 nationals, blends veteran experience with fresh faces aiming for medals in Italy.
Ice Dance Royalty Returns
Madison Chock, 33, of Redondo Beach, will skate her fourth Olympics alongside husband Evan Bates. The duo captured team gold in Beijing and owns three straight world titles-the first U.S. ice dance team to achieve that streak. They also hold a record seven U.S. championships.
Pairs Debut for L.A. Native
Los Angeles-born Spencer Akira Howe, 29, and partner Emily Chan secured their first Olympic berth with a fourth-place finish at nationals. A Private Second Class in the Army, Howe serves as an 88M Auto Transport Operator while training for competition.
Singles Standouts
Alysa Liu, 20, returns for her second Games after placing sixth in 2022 at age 16. The Oakland native, now training in her hometown, claimed silver at the 2026 U.S. championships behind Amber Glenn. Liu made history in 2025 by becoming the first U.S. woman to win the world singles title in 19 years.
Andrew Torgashev, 24, based in Irvine, will make his Olympic debut after a runner-up finish at nationals. Originally from Florida, the son of former Soviet skaters now trains at Great Park Ice in Orange County.
Competition Schedule
The Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics run Feb. 6-22, 2026, with figure-skating events spread across both weeks.
The full roster features 16 athletes selected by U.S. Figure Skating officials following the national championships. Fans can watch Chock, Howe, Liu, and Torgashev represent both their country and their California communities on the sport’s biggest stage.
