Isabeau Levito has rapidly emerged as one of the most compelling figures in contemporary American figure skating. Born on March 3, 2007, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, she grew up in Mount Holly and Mount Laurel, New Jersey, training at a local skating club under coaches Yulia Kuznetsova, Otar Japaridze, and Slava Kuznetsov. From the moment she first stepped onto the ice as a toddler – inspired by watching the 2010 Winter Olympics – Levito’s relationship with skating became both a lifelong passion and purpose.
What distinguishes Levito at a young age is not simply her competitive success, but the blend of qualities she brings to the ice: graceful artistry, polished presentation, and a maturity of spirit beyond her years. Standing at about 160 cm and balancing high school with world‑class competition, she embodies the archetype of a modern athlete – disciplined, driven, and deeply expressive in her sport.
Early Beginnings and Rapid Ascent
Levito discovered figure skating at three years old, drawn by the sensation of gliding and the artistry of skating. Over time, ballet supplemented her on‑ice training, enhancing her lines and musical interpretation. This early dedication translated quickly into competitive success. By her early teens, she had already stood atop the podium in junior competition, winning U.S. junior titles and the World Junior Championship in 2022 – the first American woman to do so in 14 years.
In her first senior U.S. Championships appearance in 2022, Levito earned a bronze medal – significant because age eligibility rules prevented her from competing for an Olympic spot that year. Still, the result made clear that a new American force had arrived on the international scene.
Her breakout at the senior level accelerated in 2023 when she became U.S. national champion, solidifying her place among the world’s elite. That same year she also won a Grand Prix event in France, becoming the first American woman to win a senior Grand Prix title since 2001 – a remarkable milestone.
World Championship Success and Technical Growth
The 2024 World Figure Skating Championships marked a defining moment in Levito’s career. Competing among the globe’s best, she delivered a performance of rare poise and earned the silver medal — the highest finish by an American woman since 2016. This result announced Levito as not just a national phenomenon but a global medal contender. Her free skate performance, combining classical elegance with technical strength, showcased her capacity to thrive under pressure.
Scores from that event reflect her competitive excellence: she posted a personal best short program score of 73.73 and continues to rank among the top competitors in both technical perimeter and artistic components.
Injury, Setbacks, and Resilience
No story of athletic pursuit is complete without adversity. In the 2024‑25 season, Levito faced one of her most significant challenges: a foot injury that forced her to withdraw from the 2025 U.S. Championships and sidelined her for much of the season. The decision to step back from competition was heartbreaking, given her status as a reigning world silver medalist. But Levito prioritized recovery, demonstrating maturity in navigating the tension between ambition and long‑term health.
Despite missing Nationals, Levito was named to the U.S. team for the 2025 World Championships in Boston based on her body of work and readiness protocol, a testament to her strong performance history and the faith her federation placed in her abilities.
At Worlds, she skated with strength, finishing just shy of the podium in fourth place. Given the context — returning from a prolonged injury layoff and limited training — this was a remarkable achievement, affirming Levito’s resilience and capacity to perform at the highest level even when not fully at peak preparation.
2025 Grand Prix and Competitive Momentum
As the 2025–26 season began, Levito showed signs of a full competitive resurgence. At the 2025 ISU Grand Prix de France, she delivered a dynamic short program, finishing third in that segment with her highest seasonal short program score. Her music selections — Italian‑flavored pieces from classic film scores — not only honored her heritage but underscored her artistic identity on the ice.
This performance reflected both technical confidence and musical interpretation, a trademark of her skating style. Even as other competitors matched or exceeded her technical elements such as triple Axels and quads, Levito’s combination of smooth transitions, elegant posture, and refined edges set her apart as a complete skater, not just a jumper.
Road to the 2026 Olympics: Bronze and Team Selection
In January 2026, at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in St. Louis, Levito continued her strong competitive form. She skated with grace and precision, including a bold triple flip–triple toe loop in the free skate, and finished third overall, earning a bronze medal and setting a new personal best overall score.
Her performances that week were marked by both technical solidity and expressive interpretation — qualities commentators and fans alike praised. The result confirmed her place on the U.S. Olympic Team for the Milan‑Cortina 2026 Winter Games, marking her first Olympic appearance and fulfilling a lifelong dream rooted in childhood inspiration.
The Olympic Experience
As the 2026 Winter Olympics unfolded, Levito became a public favorite for reasons beyond just results. Her interactions and presence in the Olympic Village drew attention and admiration, as she embraced the experience with joy and authenticity. Videos and stories circulated showing her engaging with teammates and enjoying the atmosphere, earning warm responses from observers and fans.
In the women’s short program at the Olympics, Levito skated cleanly and landed all elements, ultimately placing eighth – a respectable position in a field stacked with world‑class competitors from Japan, the U.S., and other countries. Competing in her mother’s hometown region added a personal layer of significance, making the event even more meaningful.
The U.S. women’s team – featuring Levito alongside teammates Alysa Liu and Amber Glenn – became affectionately known as the “Blade Angels,” representing a new generation of American skaters redefining what it means to be an elite athlete in figure skating today. Together, they brought personality, diversity, resilience, and camaraderie to the sport, challenging stereotypes and inspiring a broad audience.
Skating Style, Identity, and Future Aspirations
Levito’s skating is often described as elegant, lyrical, and fluid, with a strong emphasis on artistry. While the sport increasingly rewards high‑difficulty jumps like multiple quadruple jumps and triple Axels, Levito’s strength lies in her seamless flow, musical interpretation, and the complexity of her program components – the elements that distinguish figure skating as both sport and performance art.
She has expressed aspirations to continue pushing her technical boundaries, including mastering the triple Axels and potentially more advanced combinations in coming seasons – goals that reflect her drive to evolve as a complete skater.
Skating analysts and fans have sometimes debated the sustainability of her jump mechanics, noting unique technical nuances. Still, even these conversations underscore her prominence and the engagement she fosters within the skating community.
The Knowledge Base 
Leave a comment