Some of the brightest stars of the 2026 Winter Olympics are back, as top figure skaters hit the ice for the 2026 ISU World Championships early Wednesday morning.
While 2026 gold medalist Alysa Liu skipped the trip to Prague, the US is well represented by Olympic team gold medalist Amber Glenn and a pair of 19-year-olds: fellow Blade Angel and 2024 World silver medalist Isabeau Levito, and rising talent Sarah Everhardt.
"Now I just want to enjoy it," Glenn said ahead of this week's competition, with the 26-year-old ready to put her Olympic stumbles behind her.
The three-time US champion is aiming for a first-ever individual podium finish at the World Championships — though Glenn faces steep competition from other Olympic contenders.
This week's women's singles bill features Japan stars Kaori Sakamoto, Ami Nakai, and Mone Chiba, after the trio finished second, third, and fourth, respectively, in Milan.
This event is also serving as 25-year-old Sakamoto's swan song, with the three-time world champion set to retire at the end of this season.
The World Championships kicked off with the women's short program competition, with Sakamoto, Chiba, Glenn, and Levito currently sitting in first through fourth place on the scoresheet.
Nakai and Everhardt also made the 24-skater free skate cut in eighth and ninth place, respectively.
How to watch the 2026 ISU World Figure Skating Championships
The 2026 ISU World Figure Skating Championships run through Saturday afternoon, with the women's free skate determining this year's champion on Friday.
The women's free skate will begin at 1 PM ET, airing live on USA Network.
