Alysa Liu announced her return in 2024, approaching skating on her own terms. She took creative control over music, choreography, and costumes, rediscovering her passion.
Alysa Liu scripted her name into figure skating history on February 19, 2026, claiming the women’s singles gold medal at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. The 20-year-old American delivered a captivating free skate to Donna Summer’s “MacArthur Park Suite,” scoring 150.20 points in the segment for a total of 226.79. This victory ended a 24-year wait for the United States in the event, marking the first individual gold for a US woman since Sarah Hughes in 2002.
“I’m so honoured to have this and be alongside the people who have won it in the past,” Liu said. “They’re incredible; it’s crazy that I have the same thing they do now.” She added, “I’m so happy with the way I skated today. The crowd was incredible, and the skate went exactly how I wanted it to.”
During her break, Liu embraced life beyond the rink. She trekked to Mount Everest Base Camp, travelled with friends, and explored college. “I was 16 and college was coming up. Like, I wanted to do so much,” she reflected in interviews.
Her resurgence peaked with a world title in 2025, breaking a long US drought there too. At Milano Cortina, she added team gold early in the Games before her individual triumph. Her free skate, repurposed from a prior season, showcased technical precision and artistic joy, with only a minor ding on a spin.
Alysa Liu’s gold highlights perseverance and self-discovery, inspiring fans worldwide.
