How Alysa Liu Won Women’s Figure Skating Gold for U.S. at the 2026 Olympics
Alysa Liu reclaimed her career on her own terms and won the gold medal in the women’s competition at the Milan-Cortina Games, delivering a personal-best free skate that pushed her to the top of the podium and marked a historic moment for U. S. women’s singles skating.
Alysa Liu’s comeback and what the gold signifies
After quitting the sport following the 2022 Beijing Olympics, Alysa Liu returned to compete and finished third in the short program before producing a relaxed, complete and liberated long program that clinched the title. Her winning total of 226. 79 points was a personal best in the most important competition of her young career. At 20 years old and representing Oakland, Calif., she became the first American woman to win Olympic singles gold since 2002 and the first to win any Olympic medal in women’s singles since 2006. She leaves these Games with two gold medals, having already been part of the winning team event.
Alysa Liu's gold-winning skate: technique, music and marks
Skating to "MacArthur Park" as sung by Donna Summer, Liu delivered a program notable for technical precision coupled with bright artistry. She landed seven triple jumps in the long program and earned career-high artistic scores in categories such as choreography, musicality and skating skills. Liu did not attempt a triple axel or a quadruple toe loop in the long program; other competitors included those elements in their attempts.
Podium placements, scores and immediate implications
The final podium saw Japan take both silver and bronze. Kaori Sakamoto took silver with 224. 90 points in what was her final competition before retirement. Ami Nakai, 17 and making her Olympic debut, won bronze with 219. 16 points after slipping from first place following the short program. The tight scoring underlines how Liu’s blend of consistency and artistry in the free skate proved decisive.
| Place | Skater | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | Alysa Liu | 226. 79 | Personal-best total; long program featured seven triple jumps |
| Silver | Kaori Sakamoto | 224. 90 | Final competition before retirement |
| Bronze | Ami Nakai | 219. 16 | Youngest female skater at these Games; slipped from first after short program |
What comes next for the sport and for Liu
This victory reshapes the immediate narrative for U. S. women's singles skating by ending a multi-Games gold drought and adding a dramatic comeback storyline. Liu’s performance emphasized artistic growth as much as technical execution: career-high artistic marks and a confident presentation were pivotal to her win. The result also highlights a shifting competitive landscape, with established champions and rising teenagers both on the podium.
Recent developments indicate that the significance of this gold will be discussed widely in the skating community and among fans, and that the final placements will influence how athletes and coaches plan future programs and element choices. Details about next steps for the skaters will emerge over time.
