Alysa Liu wins first US women's figure skating Olympic gold in 24 years

Alysa Liu wins first US women's skating gold in 24 years

Alysa Liu won the women's figure skating gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics on Thursday, ending a 24-year drought for the United States. The 20-year-old from California scored 226.79 points with a near-flawless free skate in Milan, Italy.

Japan's Kaori Sakamoto took silver with 224.90 points, while her teammate, 17-year-old Ami Nakai, won bronze. The victory marks the first individual gold for an American woman since Sarah Hughes won in Salt Lake City in 2002.

A comeback story capped with gold

Liu's path to the podium was unconventional. After finishing sixth at the 2022 Beijing Games, she abruptly retired from the sport. She spent the next two years away from competitive skating, climbing to Mount Everest's base camp and enrolling at UCLA to study psychology.

She returned to the ice on her own terms, more carefree than during her childhood prodigy years. “I think my story is more important than anything to me,” Liu said after her win. “This journey has been incredible.”

Her performance was commanding from start to finish. Skating to Donna Summer's “MacArthur Park,” she landed every jump cleanly, from her opening triple flip to her closing combination. As the music ended, she celebrated with a raw shout caught by TV cameras: “That’s what I’m f—————— talking about!”

Team USA's strong night in Milan

The night was a strong one for the American team. Teammate Amber Glenn, who had a disappointing short program, delivered a season-best free skate to finish fifth with 214.91 points. She was briefly in the podium position until the final skaters bumped her down.

Glenn was the first to celebrate Liu's victory, jumping into the kiss-and-cry area and raising Liu's hand in triumph the moment the gold was secured. “Her story of taking a step back, mental health, I think it really attests to you never know what the journey to success is going to be,” Glenn said.

This is Liu's second gold of the Milan Cortina Games. She and Glenn helped the U.S. win the team event earlier in the Olympics.

The end of an era for Sakamoto

For silver medalist Kaori Sakamoto, the result was bittersweet. The three-time world champion, who plans to retire after this season, had hoped to upgrade her bronze from Beijing to gold. “I’m really regretful,” Sakamoto said. “I feel like I’m so disappointed, to be honest.”

The podium also highlighted a shift in the sport's landscape. Russian skater Adeliia Petrosian, competing as a neutral athlete, attempted the only quadruple jump of the women's competition but fell. The error left her in sixth place, just behind Glenn.

Liu’s win breaks a long period of dominance by Russian and Japanese skaters. Her key achievements leading to this moment include:

• Winning the first of two consecutive U.S. national titles at age 13, making her the youngest champion ever.
• Capturing the 2025 World Championship, the first for an American woman since 2006.
• Winning Olympic team gold just days before her individual victory.

What the gold means for US skating

The victory is a monumental moment for U.S. Figure Skating, which has invested heavily in rebuilding its women's program. Liu’s comeback narrative—prioritizing mental health and personal growth—resonates beyond just the scoreboard.

“I don't need this,” Liu said of the gold medal around her neck. “But what I needed was the stage, and I got that. So it was all good, no matter what happened.”

With her gold-streaked hair resembling tree rings, symbolizing growth, Liu has cemented her legacy not just as a champion, but as an athlete who redefined her own path to the top of the Olympic podium.