There's a misconception that the post-Olympic season is a snoozer. For every skater who retires or takes a break after the Olympic Games, there's another who is ready to make their mark. And that was what we saw this past season — and American skaters were ready to shine and write some history in the process.
Below, check out Team USA's top moments of the 2022-23 season.
Malinin Lands the First Quad Axel in Competition
The buzz over the offseason last year was
Ilia Malinin showing clean quad Axels in practice on social media, but we all know it's one thing to do (and film) it in practice, and it's another altogether to put it down when it counts. Malinin didn't disappoint, landing the very first one he tried in competition at the 2022 U.S. International Figure Skating Classic. He went on to land a few more during the season and established himself as one of the skaters to watch in this next Olympic quad (pun intended).
Knierim and Frazier Trailblaze the Path for U.S. Pairs with Season of Firsts
When they paired up a few years back, we all saw the potential. After all,
Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier were U.S. champions in their own right. Little did we know just how high their ceiling was. This past season saw them firmly establish themselves as one of the greatest U.S. pairs in history. They started 2022 with two Grand Prix golds, becoming the first U.S. pairs team to win multiple Grand Prix events in one season, before becoming the first-ever pairs team to medal at ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final with silver. At the ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2023, they came home with another silver, winning a medal for the second straight year.
Chock and Bates' Longevity Takes New Heights
It was already a historic World Championships for
Madison Chock and Evan Bates, finally winning the World title that has eluded them in their decorated career. In doing so, they became just the second U.S. ice dance team to stand atop the World Championships podium. But their longevity is what made the most headlines for me, as their win in Saitama made them the only ice dance team to win a World title with both partners in their 30s. It was a testament to their 12 years together as a team and their continued dedication to improvement year over year.
The Haydenettes Continue to Write History
With their 30th (actually 30!) U.S. title and 13th consecutive win at the 2023 U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships, the Haydenettes extended their dynasty on the U.S. synchro scene. And there was so much that was noteworthy with that win, as the winningest synchronized skating team in U.S. history set a new record for highest score in the history of the U.S. Championships as well.
Tennell and Torgashev's Comeback Seasons
Two skaters who were absent from the Olympic season were
Bradie Tennell and
Andrew Torgashev, and their injuries were serious enough that many wondered if we were ever going to see them back in competition. They both went on different journeys to get back to form, but both of them had their season highlight at the 2023 Toyota U.S. Figure Skating Championships, where they found themselves on the podium to lock in a place on the World Championships roster.
Levito Announces her Arrival with U.S. Championships Win
After a breakout first appearance on the senior ranks at the 2022 Toyota. U.S. Figure Skating Championships, the eyes were on
Isabeau Levito to take that next step this past season. She did exactly that, delivering her best skates of an already-strong season to win her first U.S. title. Although she's just 16 years old, Levito has earned a medal at every U.S. Championships she's competed at, dating back to 2018 when she won at the juvenile level.
Brown Translates Love for Skating to Best Results of His Career
For many skating fans,
Jason Brown's first event of the season — at the U.S. Championships — was a "comeback" to competition. For Brown, it was just in his plans all along to have a late start to his season and compete sparsely. There was something to the freedom he brought to U.S. Championships, Worlds and World Team Trophy. The pressure to make it to the Olympics had evaporated, and he competed for the love of skating and competition. And the result was some of the best skating and results of his career.
Broussard Finds His Style and His Quad
The American men have a recent history of impressing on the junior ranks, and this past season, it was the breakthrough of
Lucas Broussard that stood out. Although it's still early in his career, he's already developed his own point of view on the ice, and seen the results, taking second at the Junior Grand Prix Final and winning his first U.S. Championship at the junior level. That combined with the new trick in the form of his quad toe makes him one to watch in the future.
Skyliners Junior Shine on the World Stage
The future is bright for Skyliners junior as they continue to impress. Coming off a win at U.S. Championships in which they became the team with the most golds in the history of the event, they went on to clinch the bronze medal at the ISU World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships 2023. They have now medaled at the last four Junior Worlds they competed in, making them the most decorated American junior team on the World stage.
New Faces on the Scene
Don't forget the new generation. There was a lot to celebrate at the U.S. Championships, where names like
Josephine Lee,
Samuel Mindra,
Sonia Baram and Daniel Tioumentsev, and
Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik put together some memorable performances – all in their first appearance at U.S. Championships in the senior ranks.
