The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan belong to the Blade Angels. Alysa Liu, Amber Glenn, and Isabeau Levito led the U.S. Women's Figure Skating Team to gold in the team competition, delivering a defining moment for American skating and for LGBTQ+ visibility on the world's biggest winter sports stage.
Breaking barriers on ice
Amber Glenn's path to the podium was lined with obstacles far beyond the technical demands of figure skating. The Texas skater arrived in Milan as the first openly LGBTQ+ woman figure skater in Olympic history, and she used that platform responsibly. At a pre-Olympic press conference, Glenn spoke candidly about the challenges facing the queer community under the current administration, saying: "It's been a hard time for the [LGBTQ] community overall. It isn't the first time that we've had to come together as a community and try to fight for our human rights. Because of that, it's made us a lot stronger."
Her honesty drew backlash from online detractors who forced her to delete her social media accounts. Yet Glenn persisted. Despite stumbling on a triple toe loop in the short program and finishing fifth individually, she became the first out LGBTQ+ woman to win Olympic figure skating gold as part of the team victory. It was a powerful statement: authenticity and excellence are not mutually exclusive.
Liu's triumphant return
While Glenn's story was one of resilience, Alysa Liu's was one of reinvention. The skater had stepped away from competitive figure skating at 16, seemingly closing the door on her Olympic dreams. Instead, she chose to return on her own terms. Sporting striking blonde and brunette striped hair and skating with infectious joy, Liu delivered a stunning free skate that secured her the gold medal in the individual competition. She became the first American woman to win Olympic figure skating gold since 2002, and celebrated with an unfiltered moment that captured her joy: looking directly into the camera and exclaiming her unedited triumph.
A Milan moment for Levito
Isabeau Levito rounded out the trio with a 12th place finish in the individual event. For the 18-year-old, competing in Milan held special meaning: the city was her mother's birthplace and home to her grandmother, making her first Olympic appearance a deeply personal one.
The Blade Angels' gold in Milan represents more than medals and records. It's a reminder that queer athletes can claim their space, speak their truth, and excel at the highest level, all at once. In a moment when LGBTQ+ rights feel precarious, their performance was a gift to a community that needed to see itself reflected in triumph.
Source: Queerty
Cover photo: YantsImages, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
