Amber Glenn and Isabeau Levito wanted a shot at a world championship medal after missing out at the 2026 Winter Olympics, but the American stars fell just short.
In podium contention at the 2026 world figure skating championships in Prague, Glenn and Levito had errors in their free skate on Friday, March 27, that proved to be too costly, resulting in a fourth place finish for Levito and sixth for Glenn. Fellow U.S. skater Sarah Everhardt ended in 11th.
Decorated Japan skater Kaori Sakamoto, the silver medalist in Milano Cortina, claimed gold, capping off her stellar career with her fourth first-place finish in the past five years after the three-peat from 2022-24. Fellow Japanese skater Mone Chiba took silver and Nina Pinzarrone of Belgium won bronze.
Both Glenn and Levito did well in their short programs, entering the night in third and fourth place, respectively. While Levito has a previous medal at worlds − a silver in 2024 − Glenn was going for her first one at the event, finishing in fifth last year.
Levito went first and had an under-rotated jump early in her program that resulted in a score of 134.83.
Glenn followed, skating a program that was strong in the Olympics and, if replicated, would have assured her a medal. She started strong with a picture perfect triple Axel.
But then the mistakes happened. The triple salchow was under rotated, and a triple loop, which devastated her short program in Milano Cortina, was decisive again when she was unable to complete the jump. Glenn sat on the ice when she was done skating, clearly upset at the mistakes.
Glenn earned a score of 130.47 for the free skate, keeping her off the podium before Sakamoto and Chiba went on the ice. Levito had a chance to medal if Sakamoto and Chiba struggled, but the Japanese skaters looked exceptional on the ice, leaving no doubt of their victories.
Both American athletes were competing roughly a month after the Olympics ended, coming to Prague after battling illnesses as well. The competition notably didn’t have Olympic champion Alysa Liu, who withdrew from worlds as she has been wrapped up in several career opportunities since becoming the breakout star of the Winter Olympics.
The title is the perfect ending for Sakamoto, with this season being the final one of her career. She hoped to add Olympic gold to her resume in February but took silver. She ends her run with four world titles, a Grand Prix Final champion and as a five-time Japanese champion.