Amber Glenn Skates to Victory Again

Amber Glenn made it three in a row, winning her third straight U. S. figure skating title. She nailed her opening triple axel, a move she's known for, and skated a clean program to secure the win. Her score of 233. 55 points made her the first skater to win three consecutive national titles since Michelle Kwan in 2005. Off the ice, Alysa Liu, who finished second with 228. 91 points, was cheering Glenn on. Liu, known for her viral halo hairdo, had just finished her own impressive performance. She praised Glenn's hard work and clean skate, showing good sportsmanship. Isabeau Levito took the bronze with 224. 45 points, likely securing her spot on the U. S. Olympic team. The official team announcement is coming soon. Glenn admitted she was nervous before her performance, saying her stomach was bothering her. But she pushed through, relying on her experience to skate well. In the pairs competition, Alisha Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov defended their title despite some mistakes. They finished with 207. 71 points, ahead of Ellie Kam and Danny O'Shea, who got 197. 12 points. Efimova and Mitrofanov's performance was a tribute to Olympic champions Katia Gordeeva and Sergey Grinkov. Their free skate was set to "Where Do I Begin? " from the movie "Love Story. " They had a few errors, but their strong finish secured their victory.The U. S. has qualified three women's spots for the Olympics, but only two in pairs. Efimova and Mitrofanov are the clear favorites, but Efimova's citizenship status is still uncertain. She was born in Finland and has competed for Germany and Russia. She needs to get her American passport soon to compete in the Olympics. The Skating Club of Boston is working to expedite her citizenship process. If approved, Efimova and Mitrofanov will likely go to the Olympics. Kam and O'Shea are also strong contenders for a spot. In the women's competition, Levito skated first, performing to music from "Cinema Paradiso. " Her score was a season best, putting her in first place. Liu then skated her new free program set to Lady Gaga songs, performing as well as she did at last year's world championships. Glenn's performance was the highlight of the night. She started with a triple axel and skated flawlessly, earning a standing ovation. She broke down in tears when her score was announced, showing how much the win meant to her. Liu and Levito joined Glenn in the kiss-and-cry area, likely the three skaters who will represent the U. S. in the Olympics. They have a chance to bring home a medal, something the American women haven't done since 2006. Glenn said that if they do their jobs in Milan, someone from their team will likely stand on the podium. This shows their confidence and determination to succeed.