Gabriela Juarez-Rivas is Emerging as a Key Figure for Team USA

From Junior World Champion to Olympic hopeful, the 17-year-old is building consistency on the road to Milano–Cortina 2026

Gabriela Juarez-Rivas did not follow a traditional path into elite figure skating.

Before committing fully to skating, she briefly explored rhythmic gymnastics and swimming. She first stepped onto the ice at age 5, and by 7, she had chosen figure skating as her sole focus and begun competing seriously.

Now 17, Juarez-Rivas is a Junior World champion, a multiple-time senior Grand Prix winner, and one of the most consistent young competitors in U.S. women’s figure skating — a résumé that has moved her firmly into the conversation heading toward the 2026 Olympic cycle.

“When I was younger, I didn’t really think about where skating could take me,” Juarez-Rivas said. “I just liked being on the ice and getting better every year. It wasn’t about titles yet. I liked enjoying the process and seeing how far I could push myself.”

A steady rise through U.S. skating

Juarez-Rivas was born in Mountain View, California, and raised in nearby San Jose, where she continues to train at Sharks Ice. She represents Team USA and the Peninsula Skating Club, remaining closely tied to Northern California as her career progresses internationally.

Her rise through the U.S. skating system was gradual and intentional. Consistent results at the regional and sectional levels earned her invitations to the National Development Camp. In 2023, she made her Junior Nationals debut and officially earned Team USA status.

“There wasn’t one competition that changed everything,” she said. “Each season added something new, and over time it all started to come together.”

“There wasn’t a single competition where everything suddenly changed,” she said. “It was more like each season added something new, and eventually all of those experiences started to stack up.”

Junior breakthrough on the world stage

The 2023–24 season marked Juarez-Rivas’ breakthrough internationally.

On the Junior Grand Prix circuit, she won gold at JGP St. Gervais and placed fourth in Ljubljana, qualifying for the Junior Grand Prix Final, where she earned the silver medal. She closed the season by capturing the 2024 Junior World Championship title.

“At Junior Worlds, I remember telling myself to just stay really present and focus on what I could control,” Juarez-Rivas said. “That mindset helped me a lot because it stopped me from overthinking everything that was at stake. It was definitely the biggest stage I had been on at the time! I skated last, and once I heard my score, I was in absolute shock."

Gabriela Juarez-Rivas "Samson and Delilah" short program at the 2023 Junior World Championships.

Immediate impact as a senior

Juarez-Rivas transitioned to senior competition during the 2024–25 season — and the adjustment was immediate.

She won gold at the Lombardia Trophy in her senior international debut, followed by victories at the Cup of China and the Cup of France. The results qualified her for the Grand Prix Final, where she earned the silver medal.

“I think moving up to seniors forced me to trust my training more,” she said. “You’re skating against people you’ve watched for years, so you have to believe that you belong there too.”

Her first senior World Championships came in Boston in 2025.

Juarez-Rivas finished sixth overall despite a difficult free skate, placing her among the top women in the world in her first appearance at the event.

“It wasn’t the competition I imagined in my head, but it was still a huge learning experience,” she said. “Being in that environment showed me what I need to work on and what I’m capable of at that level. I think I got too confident after my short program, and that let me to lose a potential medal. Skating in front of a crowd of almost 20,000 people is definitely something that takes some getting used to."

Gabriela Juarez-Rivas "Black Swan" short program at the 2025 World Championships.

Training in elite company

Juarez-Rivas trains in San Jose under Laura Lipetsky, Rafael Arutyunyan, Tatiana Malinina, and Roman Skorniakov, sharing ice time with World silver medalist Isabeau Levito and 2x World champion Ilia Malinin.

“Training with skaters like Isabeau and Ilia really raises the standard every day,” Juarez-Rivas said. “You see how seriously they approach their work, and it pushes you to be more focused and intentional with everything you do. They're also my best friends on and off the ice, and we're really there for each other through all the highs and lows."

Programs and creative direction

For the 2025–26 season, Juarez-Rivas is skating a short program to The Phantom of the Opera and a free skate to Carmen, both choreographed by Nikolai Morozov.

She enjoys the process of interpreting different characters on the ice, a part of skating she says keeps her mentally engaged throughout the season.

“I really like being able to tell a story through my programs,” she said. “Each piece has a different energy, and figuring out how to bring that out while still staying technically sharp is something I enjoy working on.”

Gabriela Juarez-Rivas "Carmen" free skate at the 2025 Nebelhorn Trophy.

Strong start to the Olympic season

Juarez-Rivas opened the 2025–26 season with gold at the CS Nebelhorn Trophy, where she delivered a personal-best performance and outscored fellow Team USA skaters Amber Glenn and Isabeau Levito. She followed this up with a victory at the Rostelecom Cup and a bronze medal at the Finlandia Trophy, qualifying her for the Grand Prix Final in December. These results have positioned her as one of Team USA’s Olympic hopefuls to watch as the road to the 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympics heats up.

“For me, consistency has been the biggest focus,” she said. “It’s not about one competition. it’s about being able to show up and deliver over and over again. That's what will make you a strong performer.”

“I want to keep building and not skip steps,” Juarez-Rivas added. “Of course I have goals, but for me it’s more about doing the work and trusting that the results will come when I’m ready.”

With her strong performances so far, Gabriela Juarez-Rivas is clearly a skater to watch as she continues the season— and we’ll be rooting for her every step of the way.