If past Olympic quadrennials are any indication, the second season of the quad may give some hints as to who the contenders might be at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Seven of the 12 Olympic medalists in 2022 earned Grand Prix Final medals the second season of the quad in 2019; and get this, the men's, pairs and dance Olympic gold medalists in 2022 all won the 2019 Grand Prix Final. Team USA comes in with some exciting prospects this season, so here are five of the top storylines heading into the Grand Prix season.
Who Are the Pair Apparents?
With Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier not competing, interested observers are looking for the next pair(s) to watch — and the U.S. has an exciting lineup of veteran and new pairs. Emily Chan and Spencer Howe had a brilliant last season to finish in the top five at Worlds, and get their chance to become the top American pair. And Ellie Kam and Danny O'Shea, who competed at Worlds in their first season together, are looking to build on a phenomenal debut season and make themselves even stronger contenders this year. Both pairs have a realistic shot at the Grand Prix Final.
Thorngren Plays the Dark Horse
With a win at Cranberry Cup International early this season, Lindsay Thorngren has already looked strong, and after some growing pains and a last season of inconsistent performances, she may be right where she wants to be this year. Her overall artistry and packaging have shown visible improvements, which will only add to her potential this season if she can find the consistency that has eluded her so far in her senior career. Her first big test will be Skate Canada International.
Capitalizing on a Surprise Comeback
One of the truly big surprises of last season was Andrew Torgashev's triumphant return to the U.S. Championships, where he took bronze and earned a Worlds spot. And with a solid bronze medal debut this season at Lombardia Trophy, he looks to be right on track to take those results to the next level. Similar to last season, the U.S. men's field — outside of Ilia Malinin and Jason Brown (not competing in the Grand Prix Series) — is talented but inconsistent. Names like Torgashev, Camden Pulkinen, Maxim Naumov, Jimmy Ma, Liam Kapeikis and Lucas Broussard can make their own splashes at their Grand Prix.
The Return of Hawayek and Baker
They were in the midst of a career-best season last year when they abruptly ended their season early to take care of mental health needs. And so, it will be an awaited return for Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean-Luc Baker at Grand Prix de France, where they will compete for the first time since finishing fifth at the Grand Prix Final last December. Fans will welcome them back with open arms.
Bringing the U.S. Champions to Allen, Texas
The first Grand Prix event of the season, Skate America always features the reigning U.S. champions. World champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates, World bronze medalist Ilia Malinin and Grand Prix Final silver medalist Isabeau Levito will lead Team USA and kick off this year's Grand Prix Series. This is a chance for them to make an early statement as they look toward more hardware this season.
