Worlds marks the last competition of the 2025-2026 season. Skaters have some time to go on tour, rest up and learn new routines before the next season starts in July.
Figure Skating World Championships in Prague end on Saturday. Americans Amber Glenn and Ilia Malinin are within medals' reach after disappointing finishes at last month's Olympics.
The gold medal-winning figure skater came to the Milano Cortina winter games with a distinctive "raccoon" hairstyle — alternating rings of dark and light hair. Now, fans are following her lead.
Alysa Liu finished the night in third place, Isabeau Levito finished in eighth and Amber Glenn is in 13th place after a popped jump. That puts extra pressure on all of them for Thursday's medal event.
Amber Glenn, Alysa Liu and Isabeau Levito are the U.S.' best shot at winning women's figure skating gold since 2002 — and of closing out these Games on a high note.
Malinin, undefeated since 2023, stumbled and fell multiple times, landing far off the podium. Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan won gold in an upset that shocked even himself.
Chock and Bates, four-time Olympians, were heavily favored for gold. But they lost by less than two points to a French duo who has been clouded by controversy involving their former partners.
NPR's Rachel Treisman took a pause from watching figure skaters break records to see speed skaters break records. Plus, the surreal experience of watching backflip artist Ilia Malinin.
U.S. figure skating phenom Ilia Malinin did a backflip in his Olympic debut, and another the next day. The controversial move was banned from competition for decades until 2024.
The three-day event is a chance for the top 10 skating countries to bring home a medal — and for viewers to get acquainted with the sport's different disciplines and biggest names.
NPR reporters visited the Milan Olympic Village in the days before the opening ceremony to investigate the dining hall dessert situation and other pressing questions.
In the wake of the Jan. 2025 plane crash, some young skaters weren't sure they could continue. A year later, many have found that's the best way to honor those they lost.
