Isabeau Levito captivated the audience with her performance inspired by the classic film “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” as she took the lead following the short program at Skate America, marking the commencement of the Grand Prix season in figure skating. The reigning world silver medalist showcased her talent in a striking black dress reminiscent of Audrey Hepburn’s iconic character from the 1961 movie, achieving a score of 68.43 points at the Credit Union of Texas Event Center in Allen, Texas. Her American teammate, Bradie Tennell, who made a comeback after recovering from a broken ankle, secured second place with a score of 66.99, while Japan’s Rinka Watanabe rounded out the top three with 66.54 points.
The 17-year-old Levito expressed her joy, stating, “I’m really glad that I skated well.” Reflecting on her journey throughout the last season, she highlighted her growth and maturity as she sets her sights on the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics. Her performance featured a triple lutz-triple toe loop, which she slightly under-rotated, followed by a double axel and a triple flip. This marked only the second competitive appearance of the program for the former U.S. champion.
As Levito looked forward to the next day’s events, she mentioned, “I’m excited to rest, begin tomorrow a new day, skate clean the way I do in practice and see where it takes me.” Meanwhile, after a challenging year that included a serious injury, Tennell seemed to effortlessly reclaim her place on the ice. The two-time U.S. champion had endured a tough recovery after breaking her ankle during practice last year, requiring multiple surgeries and nearly five months off the ice before resuming her training earlier in the year.
During her comeback performance, Tennell’s only error was an under-rotation on the second half of a triple lutz-triple toe loop combination, but she successfully landed her double axel and triple loop. Speaking about her journey, Tennell shared, “I wasn’t sure if I was ever going to be able to jump again. It was a very long road and I am so grateful to my recovery team. I didn’t watch any events last year; it was too painful. I took my recovery as this is where I am in life, and what is happening in skating isn’t my life right now.”
In the pairs competition, Japanese duo and world silver medalists Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara took a substantial lead with a lively program set to the Rolling Stones’ “Paint it Black.” The pair executed their side-by-side triple toe loop and a throw triple lutz flawlessly, achieving a score of 77.79 points. The reigning American champions, Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea, followed closely with 70.66 points for their performance, which was inspired by the composition “Rain, in Your Black Eyes” by Italian composer Ezio Bosso. Meanwhile, Georgia’s Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava held third place with 68.64 points.
Miura commented on their performance by stating, “We are very happy we got through the program without any major mistakes. We are especially happy that we achieved a level-four on the death spiral. On the other hand, we worked hard on our twist since the Lombardia Trophy and aimed for a level-four, but we only got a level-two, so we aim to improve that tomorrow.”
Skate America continues with more exciting events scheduled for Saturday, including the rhythm dance, the men’s short programs, and the free skates for the pairs and women, where medals will be awarded in the evening.