Taylor Swift was given a surprise role in Team USA’s Winter Olympics preparations ahead of the women’s figure skating getting underway in Milan Cortina this week.
The USA’s ‘Blade Angels’ – also known as Amber Glenn, Alysa Liu, and Isabeau Levito – have an A-list cheerleader in the form of the pop sensation.
The Opalite singer was behind a brand new video highlighting the female stars of the American skating program as they prepared to take to the ice.
With the women’s singles event beginning on Tuesday, the 14-time Grammy Award-winner starred in a promotional video for NBC introducing the US’s trio of medal hopes.
Glenn, Liu and Levito are all set to skate in the short program in the hope of setting themselves in good stead for the free skate two days later and ultimately a shot at the podium.
Swift, who did the voice-over for the spot, introduced the three skaters as ‘American Showgirls’ – a nod to her 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl – as her latest hit single, Opalite, played in the background.
Taylor Swift made a surprise appearance in a promotion for the USA’s women’s figure skaters
The songstress promoted Team USA’s Alysa Liu, Amber Glenn and Isabel Levito (left to right)
Silhouettes of the three athletes could be seen gracefully mimicking their skating routines in front of sparkling teal backdrops – a similar theme to Swift’s most recent record.
Glenn’s ‘superpower is embracing the fight and daring the world to test her self-belief,’ Swift said.
The veteran identifies as both bisexual and pansexual and is the first American figure skater to compete at the Olympics while being publicly ‘out’.
In a pre-Olympics press conference, Glenn shared it had been a ‘hard time’ for her and members of the LGBTQ+ community under the Trump administration. She is one of many Team USA members who have made similar comments.
While Glenn said she wasn’t going to be silent about this issue, the backlash she received was enough to lead to her logging off for a few days to protect her mental health in the midst of competition.
The songstress then explained that Liu retired from the sport at the age of 16, only to launch a comeback and return to the Olympic stage. She said Liu ‘came back on her own terms. Joy fuels her now.’
She then reflected on Levito, who has roots in the Games’ host city of Milan, where her grandmother still lives just 13 minutes from the Olympic rink.
The 18-year-old is ‘destiny personified,’ Swift said. ‘When you can skate like you’re meant to be there, history has a funny way of showing up.’
The hitmaker first introduced Glenn and her ‘superpower’ before discussing Liu’s comeback
The Opalite songstress described 18-year-old Levito as ‘destiny personified’
Liu and Glenn have already won a gold medal at the Games in the team event last week
‘They’re teammates and friends,’ Swift added. ‘They call themselves the “Blade Angels.” And tomorrow night, they will take center stage.’
The United States women’s figure skating team will begin their quest for individual medals on Tuesday when the short program is set to take place at 12:45pm ET.
The free skate is scheduled for two days later with the combined scores deciding medal positions.
The US hasn’t had a single female medalist since 2006 but there are high hopes for the trio of Glenn, Liu and Levito.
Glenn and Liu have already won a gold medal, having contributed to the Americans’ victory in the team event last week.
