Alysa Liu Makes History Wins Olympic Gold in Women’s Figure Skating, Ending a 24-Year U.S. Drought

In a thrilling finale at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan–Cortina, American figure skater Alysa Liu captured a landmark victory on Thursday — securing the women’s individual figure skating gold medal, the first for the United States in more than two decades.

The 20-year-old, known for her technical brilliance and competitive spirit, delivered a poised and powerful free skate performance to finish with a winning total score of 226.79 points, narrowly edging out Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto, who took home silver, and Ami Nakai, who earned bronze.

🏆 A Historic Achievement for Team USA

Liu’s gold medal marks a historic moment in U.S. figure skating. She is the first American woman to claim Olympic gold in the individual women’s event since Sarah Hughes did so at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games, breaking a 24-year drought in the discipline.

The victory was the culmination of a dramatic journey that has seen Liu rise rapidly through international ranks, retire briefly, and return stronger than ever. At just 16, Liu competed at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, finishing sixth in the women’s event, before stepping away from competition. She returned to elite skating during the 2024–25 season and proceeded to win the World Figure Skating Championships in 2025, underscoring her status as a top contender on the global stage.

⛸️ A Performance to Remember

In Thursday’s free skate, Liu skated with fluidity and confidence, executing a technically demanding program that included multiple clean jumps and intricate choreography. Her finishing score reflected both high technical merit and artistic presentation, a balance that judges reward at the Olympics’ highest level.

Liu’s routine was met with enthusiastic applause from the crowd at the Milano Ice Skating Arena, mirroring the excitement of viewers worldwide. As her scores appeared on the scoreboard and her gold medal was confirmed, Liu’s celebration — complete with hugs from coaches and emotional embraces with family — illustrated how much the moment meant to her and to American figure skating fans.

🎤 Legacy and Impact

Liu’s win carries significance beyond competition. She has been a trailblazer throughout her career, becoming the youngest U.S. women’s national champion at just 13 and the first woman ever to land both a quadruple jump and a triple Axel in the same competition. Her athletic achievements have earned her a reputation as one of the most technically gifted and innovative skaters of her generation.

Her comeback story — from early retirement back to the Olympic podium — adds a narrative of resilience and determination that resonates with fans and aspiring athletes alike.

🇺🇸 Team USA’s Strong Showing

Liu’s gold is part of a larger, successful performance by the U.S. figure skating team at these Games. Earlier in the Olympics, Liu also contributed to the United States’ gold medal victory in the team figure skating event, reinforcing her role as a key figure in Team USA’s overall success.

Together with teammates like Amber Glenn and Isabeau Levito, Liu helped showcase the depth of American talent on ice this season.

🎉 A Moment to Celebrate

Alysa Liu’s Olympic triumph will be remembered as one of the defining moments of the 2026 Winter Games. Her victory not only ends a long medal drought but also solidifies her place in figure skating history — as a champion, a pioneer, and a source of inspiration.

As the final notes of her performance faded and the American flag was raised during the medal ceremony, fans around the world celebrated not just a gold medal, but a breakthrough moment for U.S. women’s figure skating.