18-Year-Old Skater Isabeau Levito Achieves Olympic Dream

Levito, a Pennsylvania native, will represent the U.S. at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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Isabeau Levito, an 18-year-old figure skater from Mount Holly, New Jersey, has achieved her lifelong dream of competing in the Olympics. Levito, who started skating at age 3 after watching the 2010 Winter Games, has steadily climbed the ranks, winning national and international competitions. She will represent the U.S. at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina, Italy, where her mother's family is from.

Why it matters

Levito's journey to the Olympics is an inspiring story of dedication and perseverance. As a young skater, she set her sights on the 2026 Games and has worked tirelessly to make that dream a reality. Her success also highlights the strength of the U.S. women's figure skating team, which could potentially sweep the Olympic podium.

The details

Levito, who was named after a character in her mother's favorite movie, "Ladyhawke," has been training with the same coaching team since she started skating. She won her first national championship at the juvenile level in 2018 and has since won numerous medals at the national and international levels, including the 2024 World Figure Skating Championships silver medal. Levito will be competing against a strong field of international skaters, including three-time world champion Kaori Sakamoto of Japan and Adeliia Petrosian of Russia, who is expected to attempt quadruple jumps.

  • Levito started skating at age 3 after watching the 2010 Winter Olympics on TV.
  • In 2018, at age 10, Levito won her first national championship at the juvenile level.
  • In 2021, Levito won the junior national championship.
  • In 2022, Levito earned the silver medal at the Grand Prix Final.
  • In 2023, Levito won the gold medal at the Grand Prix of France.

The players

Isabeau Levito

An 18-year-old figure skater from Mount Holly, New Jersey, who will represent the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.

Chiara Garberi

Levito's mother, who is from Milan, Italy and introduced Levito to figure skating at age 3.

Yulia Kuznetsova

Levito's coach, whom she has worked with since she started skating.

Kaori Sakamoto

A three-time world champion and 2022 Olympic bronze medalist from Japan, who is a serious contender for the 2026 Olympics.

Adeliia Petrosian

A Russian figure skater who is expected to attempt quadruple jumps at the 2026 Olympics.

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What they’re saying

“Isabeau Levito is the skater in the snow globe.”

— Tara Lipinski, NBC commentator and 1998 Olympic gold medalist (NBC)

“The Olympics is [always] in the back of your mind. Because, technically, everything gets you there - slowly. But the next stop is actually the Olympics. It's insane.”

— Isabeau Levito (The Tribune)

“As a young, young kid, I was like, 'Why is this my name?' I always have to explain it.”

— Isabeau Levito (The Tribune)

What’s next

Levito will continue training and preparing for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina, Italy, where she hopes to help the U.S. women's figure skating team potentially sweep the podium.

The takeaway

Isabeau Levito's journey to the Olympics is a testament to her dedication, perseverance, and natural talent as a figure skater. Her success also highlights the strength of the U.S. women's figure skating program, which is poised to make a strong showing at the 2026 Winter Games in Italy.