Olyphil

Figure skating officials weigh major changes in rules, schedule — Globetrotting by Philip Hersh nternational figure skating federation officials are weighing changes in competition rules that would alter the sport radically, including a potentially dramatic reduction in jumps in singles events. ...

You can call this a case of throwing out the baby with the bath water. Or you can call it the Malinin Rules. My exclusive:

Maxim Naumov fought 'tooth and nail,' earning Olympic berth after personal loss Maxim Naumov was named to the 2026 U.S. Olympic team after a confident 3rd-place finish at the U.S. Figure Skating Championship in St. Louis, Missouri.

“I wanted them to be there, in whatever capacity they could,” Naumov said of his late parents “I know I feel their presence when I’m skating.” My story for NBC Olympics & Paralympics

Maxim Naumov channels loss for powerful skate at nationals in Olympic bid After a 4th place finish in the short program at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Maxim Naumov is the mix to make the 2026 Olympic team less than a year after his parents and former coaches, Evg...

“It's all about being resilient,” Naumov said after Thursday's short program. “That's the feeling and the mentality that I've clung on to this entire season.” My story for NBC Olympics & Paralympics

Isabeau Levito rounds out the top three in an era of powerhouse U.S. figure skaters Isabeau Levito, the 2023 national champion, now finds herself in 3rd after the short program following a strong performance, a sign of the depth in women's figure skating.

“Isabeau was supposed to be the next one, the only one, but now we have three,” 2018 Olympic medalist Adam Rippon said. My story for NBC Olympics & Paralympics

Sophie Joline von Felten heads to figure skating nationals free from Olympic pressure Sophie Joline von Felten is a rising star in U.S. figure skating, one of the few capable of landing quadruple jumps and triple Axels.

As she debuts at senior level, my look for
NBC Sports and NBC OlympicTalk at this 16-year-old Swiss native, who now represents the USA. At age 11, she took on spinning legend Denise Biellmann in a variety show spin contest.

Ilia Malinin just said on a media call that he woulds like to compete through two more Olymoic cycles, to the Games of 2030 and 2034

Ilia Malinin tops himself - and skating 's record books - once again — Globetrotting by Philip Hersh I was tempted to take the last column I wrote about Ilia Malinin, change a few numbers and use that to describe what Malinin did Saturday in the men’s free skate at the Grand Prix Final in Nagoya, Jap...

Ilia Malinin is sui generis, one of a kind, one who seems to always respond to the problem of topping himself with another dramatically correct answer.

www.globetrottingbyphiliphersh.com/home/2025/12...

Amber Glenn aims to defend Grand Prix Final title, free of fear After earning a gold and a silver medal during the Grand Prix circuit, Amber Glenn will defend her title at the 2025 Grand Prix of Figure Skating in Nagoya, Japan this week. For the two-time U.S. cham...

“I have the training, and I need to rely on it and not be fearful of disaster,” Amber Glenn said. “It’s having impulsive thoughts. . .” As she readies to defend her Grand Prix Final title, my story for NBC Olympics
www.nbcolympics.com/news/amber-g...

To all Olympics fans, sports historians, and journalists: the nonpareil Olympic data base, Olympedia, is back up and running and updated with results from 2024 Summer Games and 2024 Youth Olympic Winter Games. The site: olympedia.org

U.S. ice dancers Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik are 'here to stay' “It would be amazing to be on the Olympic team, but we want to remind everyone we are here to stay."

UPDATE: U.S. ice dancers Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik qualified for the Grand Prix Final Dec. 4-7 in Nagano, Japan with 3d place Saturday at Finlandia Trophy. Here's my story from 2 days ago on their unlikely journey to this point.
www.nbcolympics.com/news/us-ice-...

U.S. ice dancers Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik are 'here to stay' “It would be amazing to be on the Olympic team, but we want to remind everyone we are here to stay."

“I actually had no idea how difficult switching to ice dance would be,” said Zingas, a singles skater until 2022.

Alysa Liu's long and winding road leads to gold in Lake Placid Alysa Liu reflects on a whirlwind start to her Olympic season following her victory at the Saatva Skate America Grand Prix event.

“Figure skating at this level, it’s kind of the fast life,” Liu said. “You’re at this media thing, you’re at that media thing. Sometimes it gets overwhelming, because you’re talking a lot about yourself, and it’s not normal to talk about yourself this much.”
My story on her first Grand Prix win

Skating rink now a happy place for Alysa Liu Alysa Liu is finding more joy than ever in her figure skating as she aims for a spot in the Grand Prix Final.

“Of course, there are times when I’m upset, but they usually have nothing to do with skating,” Liu said. “Life is great. I don’t have much to complain about.”
My story for NBC Sports

Skating rink now a happy place for Alysa Liu Alysa Liu is finding more joy than ever in her figure skating as she aims for a spot in the Grand Prix Final.

My story from Skate America

Madison Chock and Evan Bates find appreciation in swan song Olympic season For what may be their final season, Madison Chock and Evan Bates head into the 2025 ISU Grand Prix Saatva Skate America as favorites for gold.

3-time world champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates won't give in to a sense of been there, done that as they look toward fourth Olympics together. “It can be really challenging, especially having a long career." My story for
@NBCSports

Oh my quadg0d: Ilia Malinin crushes the Skate Canada field - and even tops himself — Globetrotting by Philip Hersh  There comes a point in the careers of some extraordinary athletes when they are competing against only themselves and the record books. And, ipso facto , given that the athlete has to be extra...

For Ilia Malinin, topping the world may become easier than topping himself. My look at his Skate Canada performance.
www.globetrottingbyphiliphersh.com/home/2025/11...

For Bradie Tennell, setbacks propel comeback as she aims for 2026 Olympics Two-time U.S. figure skating champion Bradie Tennell makes her Grand Prix debut this weekend in Canada as she looks to make her second Olympic team this season.

Her choice of music is no accident: Bradie Tennell is on a personal mission in trying to make a second Olympic team.

In memoir, skating champion Nicole Bobek confronts her past head-on, frightening details and all — Globetrotting by Philip Hersh  It's wild how fast life can flip. On minute, you’re center ice with the world at your feet. . .The next you're barefoot in a Florida jail cell shaking so hard you can't even hold the phone stead...

Nicole Bobek told me to fasten my seatbelt before reading her new memoir. It was a bumpy ride, indeed.

Alysa Liu, guest at Laufey concert last night, told the singer she was returning to her 24-25 short program to the Laufey song, “Promise.” Liu recently dropped her short to another song, by Laufey and D4vd, amid an investigation into death of teenage girl whose remains were found in D4vd vehicle.

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again: that applies to Amber Glenn and 3 axel. She got negative GOEs on her first 13 attempts at 3A. In her last 20, Glenn got positive GOEs on 14, including most recent three, two at this weekend's Nebelhorn Trophy. Wow. (Click on link to see them.)

I couldn’t agree more.

Pet peeve: why do TV commentators refer to someone winning a second straight title in an event as “defending the title?” You defend a title simply by playing in the subsequent event. If you win, it is “successfully” defending the title.

By the numbers, Russia's Petrosian looks golden at 2026 Olympics. Will pressure and her coach's past factor in? — Globetrotting by Philip Hersh Figure skating has become more and more of a math exercise since the sport began using its new scoring and judging system in the 2004-05 season. If it were only a numbers game, you could securely pla...

Difficult jumps give 2-time Russian champion Adeliia Petrosian an edge over her likely 2026 Olympic rivals at the start. Other factors may diminish it. My look: www.globetrottingbyphiliphersh.com/home/2025/5/...

Olympic bronze medalists in 2018, the "ShibSibs" have been away from competitive skating since then.

A season of tragedy and triumph for U.S. figure skaters — Globetrotting by Philip Hersh The figure skating season that ended nine days ago at the World Team Trophy in Japan was one of overwhelming tragedy and historic triumph for Team USA. The tragedy happened Jan. 27, when 28 members o...

My look back at the 2024-25 season, in which U.S. athletes shook the pall left by an airplane crash to honor with their performances those in the figure skating family who died.

Ilia Malinin won a second straight world title, but he wanted more Ilia Malinin won a second straight world title Saturday night, but felt upset that he had left something undone.

That’s why he whacked the ice in frustration after finishing a free skate that left him happy because it brought another gold medal but disappointed because he fell short of his goal. www.nbcsports.com/olympics/new...

Thank you. Fixed.

How Alysa Liu rediscovered figure skating and came out of retirement Alysa Liu returns to top-level figure skating competition this month after a two-year retirement.

If you’re coming in late to the Alysa Liu saga, which I have chronicled since she was 13, this story I did last October will catch you up.

www.nbcsports.com/olympics/new...