Ashley Cain-Gribble and Timothy LeDuc, pairs short
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - JANUARY 06: Ashley Cain-Gribble and Timothy LeDuc skate in the Pairs Short Program during the U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Bridgestone Arena on January 06, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
Timothy LeDuc is going to be the first out non-binary Winter Olympian! Not just the first non-binary American -- the first openly non-binary athlete at the Winter Olympics, period. Good for them, I hope they have the best time in China. Interestingly, this team are the only pairs skaters who placed at Nationals that are going to the Olympics. Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier are the other pair and they weren't able to compete at Nationals because he got Covid. They were the favorites to win and it is correct that they were allowed to be placed on the team, in my opinion, which is -- let me be clear -- only moderately informed!
Ashley Cain-Gribble and Timothy LeDuc, pairs free skate
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Mark Zaleski/AP/Shutterstock (12748880df)
Ashley Cain-Gribble and Timothy LeDuc compete in the pairs free skate program during the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, in Nashville, Tenn
US Championships Figure Skating, Nashville, United States - 08 Jan 2022
"WE LOVE MATCHING OUTFITS!!!!"
Jessica Calalang and Brian Johnson, pairs short program
NASHVILLE, TN - JANUARY 06: Jessica Calalang of DuPage FSC and Brian Johnson of The SC of New York, Inc. perform during the championship pairs short program during the U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Bridgestone Arena on January 6, 2022 in Nashville, TN. (Photo by Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
They are cute and I feel like there is a parallel universe where Adrian Grenier plays Brian Johnson in a made-for-tv movie. I'll float this to Jessica at the next Convergence of Jessicas.
Jessica Calalang and Brian Johnson, pairs free skate
NASHVILLE, TN - JANUARY 08: Jessica Calalang of DuPage FSC and Brian Johnson of The SC of New York, Inc. perform during the Championship Pairs Free Skate during the U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Bridgestone Arena on January 8, 2022 in Nashville, TN. (Photo by Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
This costume on her is gooooorgeous. (Interestingly, I just read that she was suspended for doping but then they figured out said dope might have just been because of the shampoo she was using?! WILD.)
Audrey Lu and Misha Mitrofanov, pairs short program
NASHVILLE, TN - JANUARY 06: Audrey Lu of The Skating Club of Boston and Misha Mitrofanov of The Skating Club of Boston perform during the championship pairs short program during the U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Bridgestone Arena on January 6, 2022 in Nashville, TN. (Photo by Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Oooh, I love the fishnets in place of the classic tights. Let's do this more often! I believe, per their Wiki, which has not really been updated this year, that they skated (in part) to Toxic, the Britney Spears song. More Britney in skating! I want the JT/Britney Dance-Off on ICE!
Audrey Lu and Misha Mitrofanov, pairs free skate
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Mark Zaleski/AP/Shutterstock (12748880cr)
Audrey Lu and Misha Mitrofanov compete in the pairs free skate program during the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, in Nashville, Tenn
US Championships Figure Skating, Nashville, United States - 08 Jan 2022
Audrey wears a great red lip.
Emily Chan and Spencer Howe, pairs short program
NASHVILLE, TN - JANUARY 06: Emily Chan of The Skating Club of Boston and Spencer Howe of The Skating Club of Boston perform during the championship pairs short program during the U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Bridgestone Arena on January 6, 2022 in Nashville, TN. (Photo by Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
I feel like Emily cannot decide what to do with her tights and has come up with an heretofore unseen compromise between tucking them in or pulling them all the way over her skate.
Emily Chan and Spencer Howe, pairs free skate
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Mark Zaleski/AP/Shutterstock (12748880db)
Emily Chan and Spencer Howe compete in the pairs free skate program during the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, in Nashville, Tenn
US Championships Figure Skating, Nashville, United States - 08 Jan 2022
This costume is gorgeous on her, though. Both of their Wikipedias are under threat of being deleted, per Wiki, which is rude!
Mariah Bell, ladies short progam
NASHVILLE, TN - JANUARY 06: Mariah Bell, SC of Boston performs during the championship ladies short program during the U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Bridgestone Arena on January 6, 2022 in Nashville, TN. (Photo by Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Over to the ladies! Twitter seemed thrilled for Mariah, as am I, and also impressed that she did so well for someone so very very old. She's 25. (However, it is true that she is, per Team USA, "the oldest U.S. women’s champion since 1927.")
Mariah Bell, ladies free skate
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Mark Zaleski/AP/Shutterstock (12747805cs)
Mariah Bell competes in the women's free skate program during the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, in Nashville, Tenn
US Championships Figure Skating, Nashville, United States - 07 Jan 2022
Both her costumes are very pretty and totally reasonable. I hope she shows up to this Olympics and kills it!
Karen Chen, ladies short program
NASHVILLE, TN - JANUARY 06: Karen Chen of Peninsula SC reacts to her performance during the championship ladies short program during the U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Bridgestone Arena on January 6, 2022 in Nashville, TN. (Photo by Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Karen is ALSO relatively elderly at 22, I suppose, and I love her and want the best for her! (I also want whoever is in charge of all these skaters' Wikis to go in there and update what happened at the 2022 Nationals.)
Karen Chen, ladies free skate
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Mark Zaleski/AP/Shutterstock (12747805dh)
Karen Chen competes in the women's free skate program during the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, in Nashville, Tenn
US Championships Figure Skating, Nashville, United States - 07 Jan 2022
This is beautiful.
Isabeau Levito, ladies short
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - JANUARY 06: Isabeau Levito skates in the Ladies Short Program during the U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Bridgestone Arena on January 06, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
This is ALSO gorgeous, my goodness! She doesn't get to go to the Olympics, despite finishing third, because she is only 14. Alysa Liu ALSO got Covid between the short and the free skate, and Team USA opted to take her instead of the woman who finished fourth, which does seem like it was probably the right call. FYI, Team USA is bringing a LOT of alternates.
Isabeau Levito, ladies free skate
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Mark Zaleski/AP/Shutterstock (12747805ci)
Isabeau Levito competes in the women's free skate program during the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, in Nashville, Tenn
US Championships Figure Skating, Nashville, United States - 07 Jan 2022
This gloves-wearing child doesn't even have a Wiki! I'm sure we'll be seeing her lots in the future, though, so plenty of time to get that up and running.
Gabriella Izzo, ladies short
Mandatory Credit: Photo by John Locher/AP/Shutterstock (11709670bb)
Gabriella Izzo performs during the women's short program at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, in Las Vegas
US Championships Figure Skating, Las Vegas, United States - 14 Jan 2021
She is, in fact, one of the alternates. NEVER has it seemed more possible that an alternate will see the ice.
Gabriella Izzo, ladies free skate
Mandatory Credit: Photo by John Locher/AP/Shutterstock (11712138ak)
Gabriella Izzo performs during the women's free skate program at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, in Las Vegas
US Championships Figure Skating, Las Vegas, United States - 15 Jan 2021
I love this costume, and Wikipedia seems to indicate that she is wearing this to skate to the dulcet tones of Glenn Close from Sunset Boulevard, and I LOVE THAT FOR US.
Madison Chock and Evan Bates, rhythm dance
NASHVILLE, TN - JANUARY 07: Madison Chock of All Year FSC and Evan Bates of Ann Arbor FSC perform during the Championship Ice Dance Rhythm Dance during the U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Bridgestone Arena on January 7, 2022 in Nashville, TN. (Photo by Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Let's turn to ice-dancing, where the Americans might have a shot at taking home a medal. These two are both, as the kids say, serving face. Wiki tells me, "The team selected a medley of Billie Eilish songs to perform for their rhythm dance, while, following the success of their Egyptian Snake Dance program, aimed to replicate that success with a new "Contact" program built around the concept of an astronaut romancing an alien," and I literally am so confused. I assume Madison is the alien?
Madison Chock and Evan Bates, free dance
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Mark Zaleski/AP/Shutterstock (12748880er)
Madison Chock and Even Bates compete in the ice dance program during the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, in Nashville, Tenn
US Championships Figure Skating, Nashville, United States - 08 Jan 2022
This skate, on the other hand, is to Daft Punk, which is fun! They both look VERY cool. It's for the best that they didn't wear the helmets.
Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue, rhythm dance
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Mark Zaleski/AP/Shutterstock (12747805ac)
Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue compete in the rhythm dance program during the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, in Nashville, Tenn
US Championships Figure Skating, Nashville, United States - 07 Jan 2022
I enjoy how many Madisons there are in US ice dancing.
Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue, free dance
NASHVILLE, TN - JANUARY 08: Madison Hubbell of Lansing SC and Zachary Donohue of Lansing SC perform during the Championship Ice Dance Free Dance during the U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Bridgestone Arena on January 8, 2022 in Nashville, TN. (Photo by Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
This is very delicate and pretty.
Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean-Luc Baker, rhythm dance
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - JANUARY 07: Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean-Luc Baker skate in the Rhythm Dance during the U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Bridgestone Arena on January 07, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
This is apparently a disco-themed routine and I feel like they really missed an opportunity for more spangles, in that case.
Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean-Luc Baker, free dance
NASHVILLE, TN - JANUARY 08: Kaitlin Hawayek of Detroit SC, Inc. and Jean-Luc Baker of Seattle SC perform during the Championship Ice Dance Free Dance during the U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Bridgestone Arena on January 8, 2022 in Nashville, TN. (Photo by Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
But this is Chopin and Chopin definitely requires costumes from that skating genre where you look like a chic pile of expensive laundry.
Caroline Green and Michael Parsons, rhythm dance
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Mark Zaleski/AP/Shutterstock (12747805aj)
Caroline Green and Michael Parsons compete in the rhythm dance program during the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, in Nashville, Tenn
US Championships Figure Skating, Nashville, United States - 07 Jan 2022
Also a good red lip! I believe they're skating to a combo of En Vogue's Never Gonna Get it and Janet Jackson's Control, to which I can only say YES. Also, they look great.
Caroline Green and Michael Parsons, free dance
NASHVILLE, TN - JANUARY 08: Caroline Green of Pavilion SC of Cleveland Heights and Michael Parsons of Washington FSC perform during the Championship Ice Dance Free Dance during the U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Bridgestone Arena on January 8, 2022 in Nashville, TN. (Photo by Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Somewhere, someone at Outdoor Voices is wondering if these looks can be worked into the catalog.
Nathan Chen, men's short
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Mark Zaleski/AP/Shutterstock (12748880ay)
Nathan Chen competes in the men's short program during the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, in Nashville, Tenn
US Championships Figure Skating, Nashville, United States - 08 Jan 2022
And, finally, the men, where I suspect the Americans may also take home a medal, thanks to this very reasonably dressed handsome person.
Nathan Chen, free skate
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Mark Zaleski/AP/Shutterstock (12749671br)
Nathan Chen competes in the men's free skate program during the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, in Nashville, Tenn
US Championships Figure Skating, Nashville, United States - 09 Jan 2022
Judging just from the photos, it seemed like the men were falling ALL OVER THE PLACE in their free skates. I have no idea what is happening here but I hope he's skating as Zuul.
Ilia Malinin, men's short
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Mark Zaleski/AP/Shutterstock (12748880w)
Ilia Malinin competes in the men's short program during the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, in Nashville, Tenn
US Championships Figure Skating, Nashville, United States - 08 Jan 2022
He finished second, but isn't on the team because...I guess they decided he's too inexperienced and they wanted to take Jason Brown instead. I love Jason Brown and yet this one feels unfair to me. Let the kid go!
Ilia Malinin, free skate
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Mark Zaleski/AP/Shutterstock (12749671bj)
Ilia Malinin competes in the men's free skate program during the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, in Nashville, Tenn
US Championships Figure Skating, Nashville, United States - 09 Jan 2022
He has this neat jacket all ready to go!
Vincent Zhou, men's short
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Mark Zaleski/AP/Shutterstock (12748880bk)
Vincent Zhou competes in the men's short program during the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, in Nashville, Tenn
US Championships Figure Skating, Nashville, United States - 08 Jan 2022
Men's skating involves so much spinning around while leaning over. It makes my vertigo act up even if I'm not moving. Vincent looks fine here. He looks predictably low-key.
Vincent Zhou, free skate
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Mark Zaleski/AP/Shutterstock (12749671bd)
Vincent Zhou competes in the men's free skate program during the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, in Nashville, Tenn
US Championships Figure Skating, Nashville, United States - 09 Jan 2022
This is much snazzier! Like the cover of a literary fantasy novel!
Jason Brown, men's short
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Mark Zaleski/AP/Shutterstock (12748880ac)
Jason Brown competes in the men's short program during the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, in Nashville, Tenn
US Championships Figure Skating, Nashville, United States - 08 Jan 2022
JAZZ HANDS! I enjoy him very much, even if I think he probably shouldn't get to do this. Prove me wrong, Jason!
Jason Brown, free skate
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Mark Zaleski/AP/Shutterstock (12749671aq)
Jason Brown competes in the men's free skate program during the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, in Nashville, Tenn
US Championships Figure Skating, Nashville, United States - 09 Jan 2022
