It’s no surprise that Maia and Alex Shibutani are in a reflective mood this week at the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in St. Louis.
“We were actually here 20 years ago, the last time nationals was here,” Maia says, a smile forming across her face.
The now veteran duo recall sitting in the stands and volunteering backstage amongst some of their childhood heroes in 2006. It would be only five years later that the brother-sister duo would stun for the 2011 World bronze medal.
Some seven years later – at PyeongChang 2018 – they claimed Olympic bronze. And seven more, just a few months ago, they announced their return to the sport in what was an unprecedented move, especially with Milano Cortina 2026 looming in the not-too-distant future.
“We’re not super numerology people, but the periodisation of seven-seven [years], I feel like each of those have allowed for personal growth that has shown up,” Maia told Olympics.com in an exclusive interview Tuesday (6 January). “And within those seven years, of course there are challenges. Of course there’re things that you have to overcome.”
So what’s the mindset as they arrive back to an event they haven’t competed at in eight years? And with a competitive ice dance field to contend with for one of three Olympic team spots?*
“Being on this journey is what feels like the win,” Maia said.
Added Alex: “There’s nothing for us to lose [because] we’ve been to so many competitions before. We’ve competed under so many circumstances and had varying experiences [and] achieved in at the highest levels of the sport. So we know how to do it, but it’s just about kind of being patient with ourselves in this never-before-experienced process.”
Maia & Alex Shibutani Are Chasing a New Olympic Chapter | Athletes to Watch Milano Cortina 2026
Two-time Olympic medallists and pioneers of ice dance, siblings Maia and Alex Shibutani are preparing their return to competition ahead of Milano Cortina 2026. From their early years on the ice to making history as the first sibling team of Asian descent to medal at the World Championships, their journey has been defined by creativity and resilience. After stepping away from the sport for years, ‘The Shibutanis’ are returning with the same passion and motivation.
