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Photos: U.S. Figure Skating Championships brings artistry to the Enterprise Center ice

St. Louis Public Radio | By Brian Munoz

Published January 9, 2026 at 7:36 AM CST

Starr Andrews competes in the women's short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the Enterprise Center on Wednesday in St. Louis' Downtown West neighborhood.

The country's top figure skaters are going toe to toe for a chance to land a spot in the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics next month. Check out the scene from inside one of the country's largest figure skating stages.

Glittering costumes. Blades tapping in rhythm. Unmatched athleticism on ice.

The U.S. Figure Skating Championships have brought a who's who of American figure skating to St. Louis for the first time in 20 years.

The competition is the final major event influencing selection for the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic team — and it comes on the heels of last year's plane crash that claimed the lives of several U.S. figure skating coaches and athletes.

Tiffany Simon, a youth skater and hockey player from Belleville, said she is most excited to see the Olympic team announced.

"It's just amazing to get to see these Americans that are going to go out and represent our country," Simon told STLPR's Chad Davis.

This gallery will be updated with images from throughout the championships.

Ice dance

Madison Chock and Evan Bates compete in the ice dance competition during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the Enterprise Center on Thursday.

Eva Pate and Logan Bye compete in the ice dance competition during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the Enterprise Center.

Alyse Ralph, 13, of Ann Arbor, Mich., cheers on Eva Pate and her skating coach Logan Bye as they compete in the ice dance competition during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the Enterprise Center on Thursday.

Leah Neset and Artem Markelov compete in the ice dance competition during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the Enterprise Center.

Vanessa Pham and Anton Spiridonov compete in the ice dance competition during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the Enterprise Center on Thursday in St. Louis' Downtown West neighborhood.

Isabella Flores and Linus Colmor Jepsen compete in the ice dance competition during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko compete in the ice dance competition during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the Enterprise Center.

Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik compete in the ice dance competition during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the Enterprise Center.

Men's short program

Maxim Naumov competes in the men's short program competition during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships on Thursday.

Maxim Naumov holds a photo of his parents while he waits for his scores after competing in the men's short program competition during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the Enterprise Center. Naumov's parents were killed in last year's airplane crash near Washington, D.C.

Will Annis competes in the men's short program competition during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the Enterprise Center on Thursday.

Jimmy Ma competes in the men's short program competition during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the Enterprise Center.

Goku Endo competes in the men's short program competition during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the Enterprise Center.

Tomoki Hiwatashi competes in the men's short program competition during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the Enterprise Center.

Ilia Malinin competes in the men's short program competition during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

Ilia Malinin reacts to the crowd after competing in the men's short program competition during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the Enterprise Center.

Ilia Malinin and his coach celebrate a nearly 30-point lead to win the men's short program competition during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the Enterprise Center on Thursday in St. Louis' Downtown West neighborhood.

Women's short program

Starr Andrews competes in the women's short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the Enterprise Center on Wednesday.

Brooke Gewalt competes in the women's short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the Enterprise Center on Wednesday.

Erica Machida, of University of Delaware FSC, competes in the women's short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the Enterprise Center on Wednesday in St. Louis' Downtown West neighborhood.

Erica Machida, of University of Delaware FSC, is cheered on by fans after competing in the women's short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the Enterprise Center.

Sonja Hilmer, of Centennial Skating Club, competes in the women's short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the Enterprise Center on Wednesday.

Josephine Lee competes in the women's short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the Enterprise Center on Wednesday.

Josephine Lee reacts as she learns she's taking the lead after her women's short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

Emilia Nemirovsky competes in the women's short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the Enterprise Center on Wednesday in St. Louis' Downtown West neighborhood.

Sophie Joline von Felten, center, holds images of a loved one killed in a plane crash last year, following her women's short program performance during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

Bradie Tennell competes in the women's short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

Elyce Lin-Gracey, of Pasadena FSC, competes in the women's short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the Enterprise Center on Wednesday.

Sherry Zhang blows kisses to fans after her women's short program performance during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the Enterprise Center.

Sarah Everhardt, of Washington FSC, competes in the women's short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the Enterprise Center.

Isabeau Levito, of SC of Southern New Jersey, competes in the women's short program.

Isabeau Levito, of SC of Southern New Jersey, waves to thousands after performing in the women's short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the Enterprise Center on Wednesday.

Alysa Liu, of St. Moritz ISC, runs out before competing in the women's short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the Enterprise Center.

Alysa Liu, of St. Moritz ISC, competes in the women's short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

Alysa Liu, of St. Moritz ISC, reacts to a highlight of her women's short program alongside her coaches during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the Enterprise Center.

Amber Glenn embraces her coach Damon Allen before competing in the women's short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the Enterprise Center.

Amber Glenn, of Dallas FSC, competes in the women's short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

Amber Glenn, of Dallas FSC, competes in the women's short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the Enterprise Center. Glenn nabbed the event's top score on Wednesday night.

Fans and U.S. Figure Skating staff cheer for Amber Glenn during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the Enterprise Center on Wednesday.

Amber Glenn, of Dallas FSC, receives a standing ovation after competing in the women's short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the Enterprise Center on Wednesday.

Amber Glenn reacts with her coach Damon Allen after receiving the top score in the women's short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the Enterprise Center on Wednesday in St. Louis' Downtown West neighborhood.

A stuffed orange sits on the ice following a women's short program performance during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the Enterprise Center on Wednesday.

Hundreds of fan-thrown stuffed animals are packed into trash bags following the women's short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the Enterprise Center on Wednesday.

Pairs short program

Naomi Williams of SC of Boston, and Lachlan Lewer, of Broodmoor SC, compete in the championship pairs short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the Enterprise Center on Wednesday.

Naomi Williams, of SC of Boston, and Lachlan Lewer, of Broodmoor SC, embrace while waiting for their scores.

Linzy Fitzpatrick and Keyton Bearinger, members of SC of New York, compete in the championship pairs short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the Enterprise Center.

Audrey Shin and Balazs Nagy, both of of SC New York, compete in the championship pairs short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the Enterprise Center on Wednesday in St. Louis' Downtown West neighborhood.

Audrey Shin and Balazs Nagy, both of of SC New York, compete in the championship pairs short program.

Olivia Flores, of Thunderbirds FSC, and Luke Wong, of Los Angeles FSC, compete in the pairs short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the Enterprise Center.

Fans cheer on Valentina Plazas and Maximiliano Fernandez, both of of FSC of New York, as they compete in the pairs short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the Enterprise Center on Wednesday.

Valentina Plazas and Maximiliano Fernandez, both of of FSC of New York, compete in the pairs short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the Enterprise Center on Wednesday.

Valentina Plazas and Maximiliano Fernandez, both of of FSC of New York, compete in the pairs short program.

Katie McBeath, of Winterhurst FSC, and Daniil Parkman, of FSC of New York, wave to the crowd before competing in the championship pairs short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the Enterprise Center on Wednesday in St. Louis' Downtown West neighborhood.

Katie McBeath, of Winterhurst FSC, and Daniil Parkman, of FSC of New York, compete in the championship pairs short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the Enterprise Center.

Katie McBeath, of Winterhurst FSC, competes in the championship pairs short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

Katie McBeath, of Winterhurst FSC, and Daniil Parkman, of FSC of New York, embrace after performing in the championship pairs short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

Emily Chan, of SC of Boston, and Spencer Akira Howe, of SC of New York, compete in the championship pairs short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

Ellie Kam, of Thunderbirds FSC, and Danny O'Shea, of SC of New York, compete in the pairs short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the Enterprise Center on Wednesday in St. Louis' Downtown West neighborhood.

Ellie Kam, of Thunderbirds FSC, and Danny O'Shea, of SC of New York, compete in the pairs short program.

Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov compete during the pairs short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the Enterprise Center on Wednesday. The pair received first place in the event but face a big hurdle. Efimova, who was issued a green card in 2024, is not yet a U.S. citizen. The Olympic charter dictates that all athletes at the Games must have citizenship in the country they represent to compete.