The U.S. trio of Amber Glenn, Alysa Liu and Isabeau Levito, self-named the “Blade Angels,” take to the ice for the women’s singles short program on Tuesday, one of the most-anticipated events of these Milan Cortina Olympics.
The winner of the short program will have a leg up on the chase for the gold medal in singles, which will be awarded after Thursday’s free skate.
The U.S. has not produced a gold medalist in this event since Sarah Hughes won it in the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, and has not won a medal of any kind since Sasha Cohen took silver in 2006.
Glenn, Liu and Levito will also be trying to avoid the difficulties of Ilia Malinin, the U.S. men’s star dubbed the “Quad God,” who stumbled to eighth place in men’s singles.
Top events to watch
Figure skating: Women’s short program
Times: 12:45 p.m. ET, 6:45 p.m. in Italy
TV: Peacock
What to watch for: The short program is the first of two disciplines in singles figure skating. It includes a host of mandatory technical elements, while Thursday’s free skate includes more freedom in execution. The skater with the best combined score in both events will take home the gold medal.
Team USA will face stiff competition from a loaded Japanese team that includes three-time World champ Sakamoto Kaori and teammates Chiba Mone and Nakai Ami.
Men’s ice hockey: Men’s qualification playoffs (4 games)
Times: 6:10 a.m. ET, 12:10 p.m. in Italy (2 games); 10:40 a.m. ET, 4:40 p.m. in Italy (3rd game); 3:10 p.m. ET, 9:10 p.m. ET (4th game)
TV: Peacock
What to watch for: The four qualification games (Germany vs. France, Switzerland vs. Italy, Czechia vs. Denmark, Sweden vs. Latvia) are win-or-go-home affairs, as the four teams that triumph will move on to the quarterfinals. Top seed Canada and No. 2 seed U.S. remain the favorites to win gold.
Snowboarding: Women’s slopestyle (medal event)
Times: 7 a.m. ET, 1 p.m. in Italy
TV: Peacock
What to watch for: New Zealand’s Zoi Sadowski-Synnott is the defending Olympic champion in this event, not to mention the top qualifier for Tuesday’s action. Team USA’s Lily Dhawornvej and Jessica Perlmutter also made the final.
Nordic combined: Individual 10km (large hill) (medal event)
Times: 7:45 a.m. ET, 1:45 p.m. in Italy
TV: Peacock
What to watch for: Nordic combined is cross-country skiing and ski jumping in one event. First, competitors jump, then they stagger their starts for the race based on how they did. Norway’s Jens Luraas Oftebro took gold in the normal hill event last week, and he’s in the mix for this one as well.
Biathlon: Men’s 4×7.5km relay (medal event)
Times: 8:30 a.m. ET, 2:30 p.m. in Italy
TV: Peacock
What to watch for: Biathlon is another mixed-sport event combining cross-country skiing with rifle shooting. Norway does very well in biathlon individually and figures to have a deep bench for a relay. The U.S. also has a team led by Campbell Wright, who finished eighth in men’s pursuit.
Speedskating: Men’s team pursuit, Women’s team pursuit (medal events)
Times: 8:30 p.m. ET, 2:30 p.m. in Italy
TV: Peacock
What to watch for: The U.S. has never won gold in this event, but there is hope in 2026. The men’s trio of Casey Dawson, Ethan Cepuran and Emery Lehman entered the Olympics on a six-race winning streak. On the women’s side, Canada entered the Olympics with the top-ranked trio of Ivanie Blondin, Isabelle Weidemann and Valarie Maltais.
Can Joshua Williamson and Frankie Del Duca crack the medal podium in two-man bobsled? (Julian Finney / Getty Images)
Bobsled: Two-man: Heats 3 & 4 (medal event)
Times: 1 p.m. ET, 7 p.m. in Italy
TV: Peacock
What to watch for: Germany had the three fastest teams in qualifying for this event. The U.S. duo of Frankie Del Duca and Joshua Williamson qualified fourth and will be among those trying to prevent a medals sweep by the Germans.
Freestyle skiing: Men’s big air (medal event)
Times: 1:30 p.m. ET, 7:30 p.m. in Italy
TV: Peacock
What to watch for: Mac Forehand of the United States produced the top qualifying score in this event and is also the reigning X Games champion. Norway’s Birk Ruud is among the others to watch, as he already has a gold medal in these Games, having triumphed in slopestyle.