Alysa Liu captured Olympic gold in the women’s individual figure skating event on Thursday, delivering a free skate that vaulted her to the top of the podium at the Milan–Cortina Games. Her win not only adds a second medal to her Olympic haul but also marks a decisive moment for U.S. women’s skating after two decades without an individual Olympic podium finish.
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Liu produced a near-flawless long program, earning a **free skate** score of 150.20. Combined with her short program, she finished with a total of 226.79, enough to fend off a late charge from Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto.
On the ice after the performance, Liu’s relief and joy were unmistakable: she signaled to the crowd, embraced her coaches and teammates, and celebrated visibly as the results were posted. The routine’s technical content and clean execution were decisive in a tightly contested final.
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The significance extends beyond an individual title. Liu’s victory breaks a 20-year stretch without an American woman medaling in the Olympic individual event — the last was Sarah Hughes in 2002 — and arrives at a moment when the depth of U.S. women’s skating has been under scrutiny.
Liu’s path to gold was unconventional. She stepped away from competition at 16 and was out of the sport for more than two years before returning to contend at the highest level, a comeback that amplifies the impact of her Olympic result.
Teammates and competition
Japan placed two skaters on the podium: Kaori Sakamoto claimed silver with 224.90, while Ami Nakai took bronze at 219.16. Both pushed the event to a close finish, but Liu’s free skate margin proved decisive.
American teammates also had notable outings. Amber Glenn skated effectively in the long program — posting a free skate score of 147.52 and leading briefly during the segment — but a stumble in the short program kept her from the medal positions; she finished fifth overall. Isabeau Levito completed the U.S. lineup in 12th place with a long program tally of 131.96.
- Free skate highlight: Liu — 150.20
- Total score: Liu — 226.79
- Notable comeback: Liu returned to competition after a two-year retirement
- Team result: Liu already won gold in the team event earlier in the Games, leaving Milan–Cortina with two medals
Final standings — Women’s individual
| Medal | Skater | Country | Total score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | Alysa Liu | USA | 226.79 |
| Silver | Kaori Sakamoto | JPN | 224.90 |
| Bronze | Ami Nakai | JPN | 219.16 |
Beyond the podium, the results offer both validation and questions for U.S. figure skating programs: Liu’s comeback and team-gold performance underline individual resilience and depth at elite events, while the mixed finishes among other American hopefuls point to areas for growth heading into the next Olympic cycle.
Michael Brown is a seasoned sports journalist bringing years of experience covering professional athletics and sporting culture. With a keen eye for breaking stories and player dynamics, this veteran journalist delivers in-depth analysis and exclusive insights from the world’s biggest sporting events. His passion for the game shines through in every story, keeping fans connected to the action both on and off the field.