Alysa Liu made history by winning the U.S. its first women’s figure skating Olympic gold medal in 24 years at the Milan Cortina Games. Liu, who took a break from the sport after the Beijing Games, made a remarkable comeback and scored a career-best 226.79 points. She outshone her Japanese competitors Kaori Sakamoto and Ami Nakai, who made mistakes in their performances.
Sakamoto earned the silver medal with 224.90 points, while Nakai finished third with 219.16 points. Liu’s victory marked the first individual gold for an American woman since Sarah Hughes in 2002. Liu’s gold-sequined dress perfectly complemented her win, with the blue ribbon standing out against the golden stripes in her hair.
Liu, the youngest U.S. champion at 13 years old, retired after the Beijing Games but found her way back to the sport with a more carefree attitude. Her flawless performance at the Milan Cortina Games secured her the gold medal and ended a long drought for American women in figure skating.
Meanwhile, U.S. teammate Amber Glenn finished in fifth place with a season-best free skate performance. Mone Chiba of Japan, who had a stunning rebound from a disastrous short program, narrowly edged out Glenn for a podium spot. Adeliia Petrosian, competing as a neutral athlete, attempted a quadruple jump but fell, leaving her just behind Glenn in the standings.
Liu’s coaches, Phillip DiGuglielmo and Massimo Scali, celebrated her victory with excitement, marking a significant moment in American figure skating history. Liu’s carefree demeanor and flawless performance captivated the audience and secured her a well-deserved Olympic title.
