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

The 20-year-old delivered a season-best free skate to cap a comeback from a 2022 retirement, adding to last week’s team title after her 2025 world crown.

Overview

  • Liu scored 150.20 in the free skate for a 226.79 total, finishing ahead of Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto (224.90) and 17-year-old Ami Nakai (219.16).
  • Amber Glenn posted the third-best free skate with 147.52, landing a triple axel, but placed fifth overall after an invalid jump in the short program.
  • The victory is the first Olympic singles gold by an American woman since Sarah Hughes in 2002 and Liu’s second gold of these Games following the team event.
  • Liu stepped away at 16 citing burnout, returned to competition in 2024, won the 2025 world championship, and now owns the Olympic title.
  • Japan notched a first with two women medaling in the same Olympic figure skating event, as Sakamoto took silver and Nakai earned bronze.