Gold For NJ's Levito, 15, At U.S. Figure Skating Championship

MOUNT LAUREL, NJ — A near-flawless free skate at the U.S. championships secured the gold medal for 15-year-old Isabeau Levito, the South Jersey native who is one of figure skating's most promising young talents.

Levito, of Mount Laurel, won her first women's national title on Friday night in San Jose with an elegant display, scoring a 149.55 in the free skate to lift her score over two-time U.S. champion Bradie Tennell.

Her technically-difficult program included two triple lutz combinations, and she drew a rousing ovation from the audience. She scored 223.33 points overall, both scores being personal bests for the South Jersey star.

“I was just very proud of myself for having collected myself and done the program that I needed to do,” Levito said to the Associated Press after her skate in San Jose. “Going into this event my entire goal truly for almost even both programs was to stay composed and really try to suppress my nerves as much as possible, to really not let little, minor, silly mistakes happen.”

Levito is also the reigning junior world champion and took third place in her senior nationals debut last year, and nabbed silver at the Grand Prix Final last month, which Patch also previewed. She will be 16 in March.

Levito came into the free skate leading Tennell by just two-hundredths of a point following Thursday’s short program.

U.S. Figure Skating announced that Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio will be host for the 2024 nationals.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.