Aerial Challenge

Patrick Blackwell 🇺🇸 has learned to look beyond the jumps. The 2026 U.S. junior champion has changed his mindset, focusing more on skating skills and performance, and learning to trust the process. And he'll continue skating to music connected to his late friend Spencer Lane.🖤 Blackwell will be competing at #JGPFigure Xi'an this week! 🔗bit.ly/Blackwell2026 📷 Melanie Heaney | US Figure Skating #PatrickBlackwell #FigureSkating #USFigureSkating #TeamUSA

Alysa Liu 🇺🇸 76.59 On performing for the audience: “Tonight I performed for the people. I performed for them specifically.” On how this Olympics feels different from her first: “Genuinely I could not even describe how different it is. Just the fact that my family and friends are here, the fact that there isn’t COVID, the fact that I’m here with programs that I love and I’m proud of to show the people and wear dresses that I love. I’m super confident in myself and everything. It goes beyond my skating. I’m really glad that I got this stage that I am on right now.” On her siblings being here: “I didn’t see my siblings really much last time when I was a skater, and they never came to a competition. So the fact that this is the first time they are seeing this program as well, it was actually very special. On if they are also coming to Worlds? “No, they have school; they are skipping school for this. Worlds is not big enough for them. And no, my family is not a distraction. My family and my friends, they’re the only reason why I’m here and they support me. I would never call them a distraction.” On placement and scores: “Well, you know, it wouldn’t change a thing, right? I hope it wouldn’t. I’m still performing for all the people, and I hope the score or the placement doesn’t affect how people see me.” On her excitement for the free skate and the Olympic gala: “I’m excited for my new dress for the free skate. I’m excited to present it, and I really want to be invited to the Olympic gala. I’m just proud to be here. I really want to be in the gala because I have a really cool gala program that I’ve been working on, and it’s basically done.” On medals: “I don’t need a medal. I just need to be here. I just need to be present and need people to see what I do next.” On Amber and her skate: “Oh gosh, she’s gone through so much, and she actually worked freaking hard — genuinely such a hard worker — and she’s overcome a lot. I just want her to be happy. That’s all I want. I’ll be seeing her later.” #FigureSkating #MilanoCortina2026 #Olympics #WinterOlympics

Tomoki Hiwatashi 🇺🇸 159.66/240.54 I felt fun. It felt like I entertained myself. I hope everyone have fun watching me skate today too. I really enjoyed skating today. I was enjoying skating this whole year, going from the Challenger Series, to Grand Prix, the Nationals, and coming here. I really just try to put a lot out there and I feel like I fought until Nationals. And I think this Four Continent was the competition for me to just enjoy myself and put an ending to my skating career. And my goal in the future is to be involved with skating, being a technical specialist, cheering and supporting the skaters. #FigureSkating #4ContsFigure