Six U.S. athletes will travel to Gangwon, South Korea, to compete at the 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games.
The Games take place January 16-Feb. 1, 2024, with the figure skating competition running Jan. 27-Feb. 1.
Team USA will have one entry in each discipline – women’s, men’s, pairs and ice dance.
Representing the United States in the women’s division is Sherry Zhang. This season, Zhang took home her first Junior Grand Prix medal with a bronze at Junior Grand Prix Armenia.
2023 U.S. junior men’s silver medalist Jacob Sanchez recorded his highest placements at the Junior Grand Prix Series this season, finishing fourth in Thailand and fifth in Hungary.
Newcomers Cayla Smith and Jared McPike will compete together as a pairs team internationally for the first time in South Korea after teaming up in September 2023.
Rounding out Team USA’s figure skating delegation, competing in ice dance, are Olivia Ilin and Dylan Cain. Ilin and Cain made their Junior Grand Prix debut this season, earning a pair of top-10 finishes.
Figure skating competition begins Monday, Jan. 27 with the men’s and pairs short programs, followed by the rhythm dance and women’s short program the next day. Medals will then be awarded after the conclusion of the pairs and men’s free skates on Monday, Jan. 29 and the free dance and women’s free skate on Tuesday, Jan. 30. Athletes will then have one day off from competition before competing in the team event on Thursday, Feb. 1.
This year, for the first time, the figure skating team event will give participants the chance to compete for their respective countries as one team. One athlete or duo from each country will compete in each of the four events - the women’s free skate, men’s free skate, pairs free skate and free dance. Based on the standings after each segment, athletes will be given points that contribute to an overall score. Medals will be awarded to the three teams with the highest point totals.
These Winter Youth Olympic Games will be held in several of the same venues that were used for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018, including Gangneung Ice Arena, which held all of the Olympic figure skating events.
All figure skating events will be livestreamed on Peacock. Events can be accessed on Peacock for 72 hours following their conclusion.
The Winter Youth Olympic Games is a multi-sport event held every two years - alternating between the summer and winter Games - for young athletes between the ages of 15-18 worldwide. 2024 marks the fourth Winter Youth Olympic Games. Unique to this event is educational programming designed to help the next generation of athletes acquire the skills to succeed both on and off the field of play.
For a full schedule and results, visit the official website of the 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games.
U.S. ENTRIES AT 2024 WINTER YOUTH OLYMPIC GAMES
Athlete | Hometown | Training Town
Women
Sherry Zhang | San Jose, Calif. | Anaheim, Calif.
Men
Jacob Sanchez | Montgomery, N.Y. | Newburgh, N.Y.
Pairs
Cayla Smith and Jared McPike | Churubusco, Ind.; Brentwood, Tenn. | Fort Wayne, Ind.
Ice Dance
Olivia Ilin and Dylan Cain | Gaithersburg, Md.; North Bethesda, Md. | Rockville, Md.
