Alysa Liu Ends 24‑Year U.S. Drought, Wins Women’s Olympic Figure‑Skating Gold
Updated (5 articles)
Liu clinches gold with a 226.79‑point total On Feb 19, 2026, Alyssa Liu delivered a near‑flawless free skate, earning 150.20 points and raising her overall score to 226.79, enough to out‑score Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto (silver) and Ami Nakai (bronze) and secure the United States’ first women’s individual title since Sarah Hughes in 2002 [1][2][5]. She entered the free skate in third place after short‑program errors but surged ahead with a career‑best performance in a glittering gold dress set to Donna Summer’s “MacArthur Park Suite” [3][4][5]. Coaches Phillip DiGuglielmo and Massimo Scali celebrated the result, confirming the historic breakthrough [1].
Comeback narrative drives Liu’s relaxed performance Liu retired after placing sixth at the 2022 Beijing Games, spent two years studying psychology at UCLA and traveling, then returned to competition in 2024, winning the 2025 world title before the Olympics [1][2][3]. She described the free skate as a “show for friends,” emphasizing a carefree mindset that contrasted with her earlier burnout [1][5]. Liu said she hopes her visibility will promote mental‑health awareness among athletes [1].
Japanese rivals and retirement announcements Kaori Sakamoto earned the silver medal with 224.90 points, posted positive grades on all twelve elements, and announced she will retire after the 2026 season [2][5]. Seventeen‑year‑old Ami Nakai captured bronze despite a fall on a triple Lutz, giving Japan its second podium spot [5]. Both skaters made combination‑sequence errors that contributed to Liu’s victory [3][4].
American teammates’ mixed results Amber Glenn rebounded from a disappointing short program to finish fifth with a season‑best free skate of 214.91 points [2][3][4][5]. Isabeau Levito slipped to twelfth after short‑program mistakes, while Russian neutral athlete Adeliia Petrosian attempted the sole quad toe loop in the women’s field, fell, and placed sixth [2][5]. The United States had already secured a team‑event gold earlier in the Games, making Liu’s individual win the second American figure‑skating gold in Cortina [1].
Sources
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1.
AP: Alysa Liu Wins First U.S. Women’s Figure Skating Gold Since 2002: Details Liu’s 226.79‑point victory, her mental‑health‑focused comeback, and the end of a 24‑year drought .
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AP: Alysa Liu ends 24‑year U.S. drought with women’s figure‑skating gold: Highlights Liu’s return after retirement, team‑event gold, Sakamoto’s retirement plans, and Petrosian’s quad attempt .
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WBNS (Columbus, OH): Alysa Liu Ends 24‑Year U.S. Drought with Olympic Figure Skating Gold: Emphasizes Liu’s free‑skate music choice, Amber Glenn’s fifth place, and Levito’s 12th‑place finish .
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King5 (Seattle, WA): Alysa Liu Ends 24‑Year U.S. Drought with Olympic Figure Skating Gold: Focuses on Liu’s career‑best score, her two‑year retirement, and the rarity of prior U.S. podium finishes .
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BBC: Alysa Liu Wins First U.S. Women’s Figure Skating Gold Since 2002: Provides free‑skate point breakdown, Sakamoto’s retirement announcement, and Liu’s post‑Beijing comeback narrative .
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Timeline
2002 – Sarah Hughes wins the Olympic gold in women’s figure skating, giving the United States its first women’s Olympic title in the event and establishing a benchmark that will stand for 24 years [1].
2006 – Sasha Cohen captures the U.S. silver medal at the Turin Games, the only American women’s podium finish after Hughes, while Kimmie Meissner wins the world title, marking the last U.S. world champion in women’s singles until 2025 [4][5].
2022 – Alysa Liu places sixth at the Beijing Winter Olympics, then quits skating at age 16 citing burnout and disappointment with her performance [1][3].
2022‑2023 – Liu studies psychology at UCLA, travels with friends, and climbs to Everest’s base camp, experiences that broaden her perspective and inform her later comeback [2][3].
2024 – After a skiing trip reignites her competitive drive, Liu returns to training and re‑enters the elite circuit, adopting a relaxed mindset that fuels her resurgence [2][3].
2025 – Liu wins the World Figure Skating Championships with a career‑best score, becoming the first American women’s world champion since Kimmie Meissner in 2006 and setting the stage for Olympic success [1][5].
Feb 2026 (early Games) – The United States secures the figure‑skating team event gold, with Liu delivering a strong free‑skate that contributes to the historic win and marks the only U.S. gold before the individual competition [2][3].
Feb 19, 2026 – Liu delivers a near‑flawless free skate in a glittering gold dress, scores 226.79 points, and overtakes Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto and Ami Nakai to claim the individual women’s Olympic gold, ending a 24‑year U.S. drought [1][2][3][4][5].
Feb 19, 2026 – Kaori Sakamoto earns the silver medal with 224.90 points, receives positive grades on all elements, and announces she will retire after the 2026 season, closing a career that includes three world titles [1][3][4].
Feb 19, 2026 – Seventeen‑year‑old Ami Nakai captures bronze after opening her free skate with a triple axel and falling on a triple lutz, giving Japan its second podium spot [1][4].
Feb 19, 2026 – Amber Glenn rebounds from a poor short program to finish fifth with 214.91 points, landing a triple axel in the short and posting a season‑best free skate that nearly reaches the podium [1][3][4].
Feb 19, 2026 – Russian neutral athlete Adeliia Petrosian attempts the sole quad toe loop in the women’s field, falls, and finishes just behind Glenn, ending her medal hopes despite a strong technical effort [1][3].
Feb 19, 2026 – Liu tells reporters she “had no poker face,” treats the routine as a show for friends and family, and waves throughout the performance, reflecting her relaxed approach that fuels her victory [2].
Feb 19, 2026 – Liu says she will use her newfound fame to promote mental‑health awareness in sports, pledging to advocate for athletes’ well‑being beyond the rink [2].