Alysa Liu Clinches Gold in 2026 Winter Olympics Women's Single Skating Free Skating with 150.20 Free Skate
In the 2026 winter olympics women's single skating free skating final, American Alysa Liu produced a showstopping free skate that earned a score of 150. 20 and catapulted her to Olympic gold with an overall 226. 79. Liu entered the free skate in third after errors in the short program but delivered a flawless free program that narrowly beat Kaori Sakamoto and left 17-year-old Ami Nakai with bronze. The result marks the first American Olympic champion in women's figure skating since 2002 and the first USA medallist in the event since 2006.
2026 Winter Olympics Women's Single Skating Free Skating — Liu's free skate details
Liu, 20, wore a sparkly gold dress and performed her free skate to music by Donna Summer. After a short program in which she struggled—most notably on a triple lutz that failed to fully rotate—she faced a deficit to the early leaders but made up the margin with what has been described as a performance for the ages. The free skate score of 150. 20 pushed her overall to 226. 79 and placed her ahead of Kaori Sakamoto on the final leaderboard.
The 2026 winter olympics women's single skating free skating final showcased Liu's comeback narrative: she had previously stepped away from the sport at age 16 after missing a medal at the previous Games, and her new Olympic title adds to an already notable world title. The performance drew a standing ovation from members of the crowd, including a high-profile figure from the men's competition who had experienced disappointment in that event.
Podium and final placements
The podium and top finishers reflected a tightly contested final:
- Gold: Alysa Liu — free skate 150. 20; overall 226. 79.
- Silver: Kaori Sakamoto — finished narrowly behind Liu; this was her final performance before retirement.
- Bronze: Ami Nakai — a 17-year-old who had led after the short program and ultimately reached the podium.
- Fourth: Mone Chiba.
- Fifth: Amber Glenn — rose from 13th to fifth after an excellent free skate.
- Sixth: Adeliia Petrosian — placed sixth following a fall.
Medals were presented on the podium by the IOC president. Sakamoto, retiring at age 25, leaves the Olympic stage with three world titles and an earlier Olympic bronze; her final routine was performed to Edith Piaf's "Non, je ne regrette rien, " and all 12 of her elements in that program received positive grades of execution. For Nakai, the short-program leader, the Games delivered a breakthrough medal at age 17.
Immediate significance and context
Liu's victory provides a historic punctuation to the event: she becomes the first American Olympic champion in the women's field since Sarah Hughes, and the nation's first medallist in the discipline since Sasha Cohen. The result also offered a critical bright spot for the U. S. following disappointment in the men's competition earlier in the Games. Liu's path from a difficult short program to a commanding free skate underscores the swing that can occur between segments in high-stakes competition.
This coverage is based on the latest developments from the event; details are presented as reported during the final. Further commentary and longer-term implications for the athletes' careers will unfold as the competitors return home and make public decisions about their next steps.
