Alysa Liu has won Olympic gold. She triumphed in women’s figure skating at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games. This marks a significant achievement for American skating. Liu’s victory is a remarkable comeback story. She delivered a near-flawless free skate. Liu earned a career-best 226.79 points overall. Her performance captivated the crowd. She skated to Donna Summer’s “MacArthur Park Suite.” Her free skate score reached 150.20 points. This secured her the top spot. Liu’s journey is a true inspiration. She previously retired from the sport. This happened at age 16 after the 2022 Beijing Olympics. Burnout led to her initial departure. She sought a different life experience. Liu returned to competition in 2024. This comeback followed a two-year hiatus. She then won the 2025 World Championship. This paved the way for her Olympic triumph. Her win ended a 24-year drought for American women. No American woman had won gold since 2002. Sarah Hughes achieved that feat then. Sasha Cohen was the last American medalist in 2006. Liu joins an elite group of American champions. The gold medal is Liu’s second of these Games. She also won gold in the team event. This was earlier in the Milan Cortina competition. Her teammates included Amber Glenn, Madison Chock, Evan Bates, Ellie Kam, Danny O’Shea, and Ilia Malinin. Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto earned silver. She finished with 224.90 points. Ami Nakai of Japan took bronze. She scored 219.16 points. Liu began the free skate in third place. However, her stunning performance moved her up. She embraced a new perspective on skating. Liu now skates on her own terms. She controls her choreography and music. Her approach is more collaborative. She enjoys the process now. Pressure affects her less. She skates for the joy of it. Her teammate Amber Glenn finished fifth. She achieved a season-best free skate score. Isabeau Levito placed 12th overall. Liu’s triumph highlights her resilience. It is a powerful narrative of perseverance. This American Story inspires many. It shows the impact of finding passion again. It is a moment of great pride for US figure skating.
