(WOOD) – Figure skating is a marquee event in the upcoming Olympic Winter Games, with U.S. athletes aiming for medals at Milano Cortina 2026. The United States boasts reigning world champions, Ilia Malinin and Alysa Liu, along with Texas native Amber Glenn, who recently triumphed over Liu at the U.S. Championships. The U.S. Figure Skating Olympic Team, which aims to defend its team gold medal from Beijing, also features the accomplished ice dance duo Madison Chok and Evan Bates, who have secured three consecutive world championships. Their success adds to the anticipation for a competitive performance in Milan. Historically, figure skating has seen significant evolution from the performances of notable athletes throughout the years. Norway's Soja Henie revolutionized women's figure skating in the 1930s, making it more entertaining and engaging for audiences. Later, in the 1940s and 50s, Dick Button pushed the boundaries of athleticism within the sport, setting new standards. As skaters take the ice in Milan, they will perform in front of nine judges who will evaluate their routines based on two primary scores: technical and component. The technical score assesses elements like jumps and spins, while the component score evaluates presentation and skating skills. A strong technical performance, such as Malinin potentially executing seven quadruple jumps, could lead to significant scoring favor. The Olympic figure skating competitions are set to showcase the talents of athletes as they aim for Olympic glory in Milan. The technical elements and artistry of performances will be crucial, with fans eagerly awaiting the final scores that will determine medalists. As these athletes prepare for the competition, their focus remains on both execution and expression on the Olympic stage. All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by Nexstar. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by Nexstar staff before being published.