I don’t really know what or how to predict this week, but one thing (I think) is for sure, we are going to be doing a lot of gasping this week at the 2024 US Figure Skating Championships. Let’s start with the women’s event (and a bold prediction), where we already had some gasps. Ava Ziegler, the surprise NHK Trophy champion, made the call last week to skip Nationals to concentrate on next week’s Four Continents. There are a lot of skaters here with the potential to skate well, but who will actually get it done?
US Nationals predictions
Official hashtag: #PrevagenUSChamps
GOLD Amber Glenn - I’m starting with the women’s preview because I have to put down this bold prediction before I second guess myself and go more conventional. Glenn has been on the verge of a huge career-changing breakthrough this season. Her axel seems to have found a new gear, and she’s been so close to putting the pieces together. It’s all there—the jumps, the programs—she is finding the belief that has eluded her. Perhaps 2024 Nationals will be the place for it.
SILVER Isabeau Levito - The defending champion has been more up and down this season than we expected from her. Even so, she took two medals on the Grand Prix and then fifth at the Final. The combination of consistency and mental strength will be crucial for her to get the back-to-back titles. If she skates to her potential, she’s the favorite on paper.
BRONZE Lindsay Thorngren - With a silver at NHK Trophy, Thorngren is very much the one flying under the radar for that title. And even though many might think it’s a Glenn-Levito battle for gold, Thorngren is right up there. Her choreography and overall packaging have improved visibly this season. Rotations will be the most important, and of these three, she’s the one most likely to get calls, particularly on her lutz-toe. It could be a close call here for the title.
4. Josephine Lee - Is it time for another Josephine Lee resurgence? After a brilliant fifth-place finish last year at Nationals, she struggled at Junior Worlds and then in her junior international events this season. Sectionals was a step up for her, but it remains to be seen whether she can battle the inconsistency that she has in competition.
5. Audrey Shin - Underrotations have been problematic for her internationally this season, and though she has the repertoire and the prior results to really figure into the medals this week, it will be important for her to have cleaned up those landings for this event. If clean or even near-clean, she can very much challenge for the podium.
6. Elyce Lin-Gracey - On the heels of a solid Warsaw Cup, where she took the bronze, she got the first-alternate spot at Four Continents. And so out of the talented but inconsistent set of skaters here, she comes in with one of the strongest international showings of this season. She took bronze last year on the junior level, and she could have a breakout debut this week.
7. Starr Andrews - If Andrews can put together two clean skates, her chances at the podium are very much there. But she’s had more consistency problems this season, even in the short, where she normally shines. She was fourth here last year, and has put down some of her best skates at Nationals.
8. Katie Shen - Fourth in juniors two years ago, Shen took a close silver behind Josephine Lee at Pacific Sectionals to qualify for her first senior Nationals. She also won the junior event at Cranberry Cup earlier in the season.
9. Clare Seo - Seventh at Nationals last year, Seo has an all-around package that can make some waves here. Her jumps have not been kind to her so far this season, and it will take a big turnaround for her to figure into the top five here.
10. Mia Kalin - If you want a quad, you’re probably gonna see one from Kalin this week. She is the only active American woman skater to have landed a quad in competition. This will be her debut on the senior ranks at Nationals.