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Alysa Liu makes history with Olympic gold in Milan
The United States celebrated its first women's figure skating Olympic champion in 22 years after Alysa Liu delivered a flawless free skate to secure gold at the Winter Games in Milan-Cortina.
A night of redemption and triumph
Liu, 20, entered the free skate in third place following minor errors in the short program but left nothing to chance in her final routine. Performing to Donna Summer in a shimmering gold dress, she scored 150.20 points-her highest free skate score of the season-propelling her to an overall total of 226.79.
That narrow margin was enough to edge out Japan's Kaori Sakamoto, the reigning world champion Liu defeated last year, who settled for silver. Japan's Ami Nakai, 17, took bronze, completing a strong night for the country.
Emotional highs and crushing near-misses
Sakamoto, competing in her final event before retirement, delivered a technically precise performance to Edith Piaf's Non, je ne regrette rien, earning positive grades on all 12 elements. Yet her score of 221.79 left her five points shy of Liu's winning total.
"I wasn't able to give absolutely everything. The frustration of not winning gold is hitting me now," Sakamoto said, wiping away tears. "Still, I think feeling this way will be important for the rest of my life."
Nakai, the youngest skater in the field, had led after the short program but faltered on her triple lutz in the free skate, dropping to third. Meanwhile, American Amber Glenn staged a dramatic comeback from 13th place to finish fifth, despite a fall in warm-ups.
Liu's journey: From setbacks to Olympic glory
Liu's victory marks a remarkable turnaround for the skater, who quit the sport at 16 after missing the podium at the 2022 Beijing Olympics. Her performance in Milan drew a standing ovation from the crowd, including teammate Ilia Malinin, whose collapse in the men's event had left the U.S. without a singles gold until Liu's win.
"My family and friends are here. I had to put on a show for them," Liu said. "When I see them smiling, I have to smile too-I have no poker face."
With her gold, Liu becomes the first American women's Olympic champion since Sarah Hughes in 2002 and the first U.S. medalist in the event since Sasha Cohen's silver in 2006.
Controversy and disappointment on the ice
Russia's Adeliia Petrosian, coached by Eteri Tutberidze-known for her role in the Kamila Valieva doping scandal-fell on her opening quad toe loop and finished sixth. The 18-year-old's early mistake dashed her medal hopes, leaving her visibly distraught.
The event, held from February 6-22, will conclude with further medal events broadcast on BBC platforms in the UK.
