Alysa Liu Secures U.S. First Women’s Figure Skating Gold in 24 Years
Updated (13 articles)
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Image: NewsweekGold medalist Alysa Liu of Team United States poses for a photo after the medal ceremony for the Women’s Single Skating on day thirteen of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on February 19, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Catherine Steenkeste/Getty Images) Source Full size -
Image: NewsweekGold medalist Alysa Liu of Team United States poses for a photo after the medal ceremony for the Women’s Single Skating on day thirteen of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on February 19, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Catherine Steenkeste/Getty Images) Source Full size
Liu Wins Olympic Gold, Ending 24‑Year U.S. Drought Alysa Liu captured the women’s singles title at the Milan‑Cortina 2026 Winter Games on Feb. 19, 2026, scoring a career‑best 226.79 points (150.20 in the free skate) to out‑point Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto (224.90) and Ami Nakai (219.16) [1][2][4][9][12]. Her victory marks the United States’ first individual women’s Olympic figure‑skating gold since Sarah Hughes in Salt Lake City 2002, ending a 24‑year medal drought. Liu entered the free skate in third place after a shaky short program but delivered a near‑flawless performance that secured the top podium spot.
Comeback From 2022 Retirement Fueled by Mental‑Health Break Liu announced her retirement via Instagram in April 2022, citing burnout after a relentless training schedule that began at age five and a sixth‑place finish in Beijing [7][8][13]. She spent the hiatus studying psychology at UCLA, climbing to Everest’s base camp, and taking a ski trip that shifted her mindset from pressure to joy [1][5][13]. Returning in 2024 with coaches Phillip DiGuglielmo and Massimo Scali, she won the 2025 World Championship before clinching Olympic gold [4][10][11]. Her free‑skate program to Donna Summer’s “MacArthur Park Suite” in a glittering gold dress emphasized artistic freedom and a carefree attitude [5][12][13].
Japanese Rivals Falter, Sakamoto Announces Retirement Kaori Sakamoto earned silver with 224.90 points but missed gold after a combination error and subsequently announced her retirement at the end of the 2026 season [4][12][9]. Seventeen‑year‑old Ami Nakai secured bronze despite a triple‑axel opening and a later triple‑lutz fall [12][9]. Russian neutral athlete Adeliia Petrosian attempted the sole quadruple toe loop in the women’s field but fell, finishing just behind Glenn [4][1].
U.S. Team Success and Other Athletes’ Performances The United States had already secured the figure‑skating team gold earlier in the Games, with Liu contributing a strong short program [4][6]. Teammate Amber Glenn rebounded from a poor short program to finish fifth with 214.91 points, while Isabeau Levito dropped to twelfth after short‑program mistakes [10][11]. Across the Olympics, U.S. women’s hockey won overtime gold, speed skater Jordan Stolz took silver in the 1,500 m, and the curling team advanced to the semifinals [6][9].
Sources
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AP: Alysa Liu Wins First U.S. Women’s Figure Skating Gold Since 2002 – Highlights Liu’s carefree free skate, 226.79 points, mental‑health focus, and the end of a 24‑year drought .
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AP: Alysa Liu Ends 24‑Year U.S. Drought with Olympic Figure Skating Gold – Emphasizes the near‑flawless free skate, event date Feb. 19, and includes a photo gallery of the competition .
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Newsweek: Nathan Chen Commends Alysa Liu’s Olympic Gold in Milan – Features Chen’s praise, Liu’s ski‑trip mindset shift, and the national pride sparked by her victory .
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AP: Alysa Liu ends 24‑year U.S. drought with women’s figure‑skating gold – Adds context of the earlier team gold, Sakamoto’s retirement, and Petrosian’s quad fall .
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CNN: Alysa Liu Wins Gold with Carefree Performance at 2026 Winter Olympics – Details the “MacArthur Park” music, Liu’s jokes about pressure, and personal interests like karaoke and fashion .
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King5: Alysa Liu’s gold and U.S. comebacks dominate Milan Cortina Games – Covers broader U.S. successes including women’s hockey overtime gold and speed‑skating silver .
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WBNS: Alysa Liu Wins Olympic Gold After 2022 Retirement – Focuses on Liu’s Instagram retirement announcement, burnout reasons, and desire for human connection .
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King5: Alysa Liu Wins Olympic Gold Then Reflects on 2022 Retirement – Highlights Liu’s family time during retirement and her emotional return to competition .
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CNN: Alyssa Liu Captures U.S. Figure Skating Gold at Milan 2026 – Notes Liu’s sportsmanship hugging bronze‑medalist Nakai and her confidence after the comeback .
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WBNS: Alysa Liu Ends 24‑Year U.S. Drought with Olympic Figure Skating Gold – Mentions career‑best 226.79 points, “MacArthur Park” program, and teammates’ placements .
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King5: Alysa Liu Ends 24‑Year U.S. Drought with Olympic Figure Skating Gold – Stresses Liu’s two‑year retirement, rarity of U.S. podium finishes since 2002, and her comeback narrative .
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BBC: Alysa Liu Wins First U.S. Women’s Figure Skating Gold Since 2002 – Provides detailed scores, Sakamoto’s retirement, Petrosian’s quad fall, and Liu’s standing‑ovation moment .
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CNN: Alysa Liu’s Return to Figure Skating Leads to Olympic Gold – Traces Liu’s early record as youngest U.S. champion, “gilded cage” retirement, artistic control on return, and 2025 World title .
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Timeline
2019 – Alysa Liu becomes the youngest U.S. national champion at age 13, setting a record and establishing herself as a prodigy in American figure skating [3].
2022 Feb – Liu competes at the Beijing Winter Olympics, finishing seventh in the women’s singles, her first Olympic appearance [3].
2022 Mar – She rebounds at the World Championships, earning a bronze medal in her final competition before retirement [3].
Apr 2022 – Liu announces her retirement on Instagram, describing the sport as a “gilded cage” and saying she needs freedom after years of nonstop training [9][12].
2022‑2024 – During her break, Liu hikes, climbs to Everest’s base camp, studies psychology at UCLA, and enjoys gaming and family life, stepping away from elite competition [5][9][12].
2024 – A family ski trip reignites Liu’s love for competition, prompting her to return to the ice on her own terms and regain artistic control with coaches Phillip DiGuglielmo and Massimo Scali [5][3].
Mar 2025 – Liu wins the World Championships, delivering a free‑skate to Donna Summer’s “MacArthur Park” and securing the first U.S. women’s world title in nearly two decades [3].
2025 – She expresses excitement for the upcoming Olympic gala, saying, “I want to do the gala so badly… No judging,” highlighting her desire for performance freedom [3].
Feb 19 2026 – Liu captures the Olympic gold with a 226.79‑point total and a 150.20 free‑skate, ending a 24‑year U.S. drought since Sarah Hughes’s 2002 win [1][6][8][10][13].
Feb 19 2026 – In the same event, Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto takes silver (224.90 points) and announces she will retire after the 2026 season, while Ami Nakai earns bronze [8][13].
Feb 19 2026 – The United States had already secured the figure‑skating team gold earlier in the Games, with Liu contributing key performances [8].
Feb 19 2026 – U.S. women’s hockey wins overtime gold, and speed‑skater Jordan Stolz settles for silver in the 1,500 m, underscoring a strong overall American showing [4][11].
Feb 19 2026 – When asked about pressure, Liu replies, “You’re going to have to explain to me what Olympic pressure is. Like, who’s giving it? What’s the pressure?” emphasizing her carefree mindset [2].
Feb 19 2026 – Liu adds, “I didn’t need a medal. If I fell on every jump, I would still be out there wearing this dress, so no matter what, I was all good,” reflecting her focus on joy over accolades [2].
Feb 19 2026 – Nathan Chen praises Liu, stating, “There’s no such thing as pressure in her vocabulary,” and recalls seeing her in a gold dress as a sign of an “Olympic moment” [5].
Feb 19 2026 – Liu says she hopes her fame “raises mental‑health awareness,” using her platform to advocate for athletes’ well‑being [7].
2026 (post‑Games) – Liu plans to perform in the Olympic gala, aiming to skate “without judging” and showcase her artistic freedom [3].
Dive deeper (7 sub-stories)
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Alysa Liu Ends 24‑Year U.S. Drought, Wins Women’s Olympic Figure‑Skating Gold
(5 articles)
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AP: Alysa Liu Ends 24‑Year U.S. Drought with Olympic Figure Skating Gold
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Newsweek: Nathan Chen Commends Alysa Liu’s Olympic Gold in Milan
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CNN: Alysa Liu Wins Gold with Carefree Performance at 2026 Winter Olympics
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Alyssa Liu Wins First U.S. Women’s Figure Skating Gold in 24 Years
(2 articles)
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Alysa Liu Captures First U.S. Women’s Figure Skating Gold Since 2002
(2 articles)
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CNN: Alysa Liu’s Return to Figure Skating Leads to Olympic Gold
External resources (2 links)
- https://x.com/YahooSports/status/2024650079261560902 (cited 1 times)