admin The crowd in Milan absolutely erupted as Alysa Liu secured a historic Olympic gold today, and this stunning victory finally ends the twenty-year medal drought for American women in figure skating. Fans everywhere are celebrating this massive achievement because Liu delivered a truly dazzling performance during her disco-themed free skate routine on Thursday night.
Initially, the young skater shocked the world by retiring at only sixteen years old after citing burnout and a need for personal growth following the Beijing Winter Games. However, she returned to the ice two years later with a fresh and vibrant perspective while taking full creative control over her music, costumes, and choreography for this comeback. This bold move clearly paid off as she dominated the Milano Cortina 2026 competition with a sense of joyful confidence that resonated through the entire arena.
Furthermore, she wore a shimmering gold outfit that perfectly matched her eventual podium finish and landed seven soaring triple jumps with total ease during the event. Because of this, she earned a massive season-best score of 150.20 for the segment, which brought her total score to 226.79 and placed her firmly above all other talented international competitors.
Meanwhile, Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto took home the silver medal after a very emotional skate, but unfortunately, a jumping mishap cost the three-time world champion her shot at the gold. She left the ice with a bloodied knee and tears in her eyes afterward, while her teammate Ami Nakai also faced technical struggles during her complex jump combinations tonight. Although Nakai led after the short program, she ultimately secured the bronze medal instead after finishing ninth in the free skate portion.
Additionally, fellow American Amber Glenn climbed back to fifth place after a tough start, but the night truly belonged to Liu and her incredible story of human connection. She previously won gold with the American team earlier in these high-stakes Olympic Games and now stands as the first American woman to win individual gold since 2002.
Ultimately, Liu proved that happiness and creativity lead to the best possible athletic results because she felt calm and connected to the audience throughout her entire four-minute program. Moreover, icons like Megan Thee Stallion and Maria Sharapova watched from the stands as history unfolded in Italy, marking a brand new era for the sport in the United States. Liu’s journey from retirement to the top of the podium inspires skaters everywhere today and reminds us all that dreams really can come true twice.
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