Alysa Liu Wins Women’s Figure Skating Gold at Milan-Cortina
aly sa liu reclaimed her career in dramatic fashion at the Milan-Cortina Games, delivering a free skate that pushed her to a winning total of 226. 79 and earned the United States its first Olympic women’s singles gold since 2002.
Alysa Liu's free skate lifted her to 226. 79
After placing third in the short program, aly sa liu rose to the top with a long program that scored 150. 20, a season-best free skate that combined technical precision and bright artistry. Skating to Donna Summer’s recording of "MacArthur Park, " she landed seven triple jumps, opened with a triple flip and followed with a triple lutz–triple toe loop combination, finishing with career-high marks for choreography, musicality and skating skills.
How the podium shaped up and key rivals
Liu, 20, of Oakland, Calif., finished ahead of Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto, who took silver with 224. 90 in what was described as her final competition before retiring, and Ami Nakai, 17, who won bronze with 219. 16 after leading following the short program. Liu had not attempted a triple axel in the long program, nor the quadruple toe loop some other skaters tried, but her relaxed, complete performance and clean landings gave her the edge.
From retirement to two Olympic golds
The victory capped a comeback that began after she stepped away from the sport following the 2022 Beijing Olympics; her individual gold joins a team event gold she also earned at these Games. Coaches Phillip DiGuglielmo and Massimo Scali celebrated at ice level as Liu jumped up and down after leaving the ice, and her free-skate score was met with loud applause, a 150. 20 that shattered her previous season best and vaulted her into the lead.
Liu becomes the first American woman to win an Olympic singles gold since Sarah Hughes in 2002 and the first American to reach the Olympic ladies’ podium since Sasha Cohen’s silver in 2006. With seven clean triple jumps and a performance described as ebullient and free of pressure, she finished with a personal-best total of 226. 79 in the most important competition of her young career.
She will leave these Olympics with two gold medals, her first coming from the team event, and her long program here—scored 150. 20—remains the defining moment that clinched the title.
