Alysa Liu Caps Olympic Comeback With Exhibition Finale

The last skater to glide across Olympic ice Saturday night in Milan had almost walked away from the sport forever.

Alysa Liu, just 20 years old, closed out the 2026 Winter Games exhibition gala after completing one of figure skating's most remarkable comebacks. Two years ago, she was so burned out after the 2022 Beijing Olympics that she quit skating entirely.

Her return brought America its first women's figure skating gold medal since Sarah Hughes won in Salt Lake City in 2002. And she did it while breaking the mold, sporting streaked hair and a frenulum piercing that grabbed headlines.

"I am just doing me, so it's cool if I'm inspiring any other people," Liu said. "I just have a certain fashion sense and kind of stubborn with it, so it'll always come through."

Saturday's exhibition at Milano Ice Skating Arena gave Liu and more than 40 other skaters one final chance to celebrate their sport. No pressure, no judges, no stress—just pure performance.

The event opened with Italian bronze medalist Carolina Kostner skating a duet with a 3D projection representing athletes' journeys from first steps to Olympic glory. Then competitors performed programs showcasing their personalities, skating to everything from classical music to Guns 'n Roses.

Amber Glenn, who helped the U.S. defend its team gold, performed to Lady Gaga's "That's Life." The song captured her journey perfectly after she bounced back from a major mistake in her short program to deliver one of the competition's best free skates.

Why This Inspires

Ilia Malinin's performance spoke to something deeper about resilience and grace. The 21-year-old entered as the heavy favorite for men's gold after winning the team event, but pressure caused him to stumble in his free skate, missing the podium entirely.

Yet Malinin won hearts with how he handled defeat. He was first to congratulate gold medalist Mikhail Shaidorov and answered every tough question afterward with honesty.

"Even with that skate, the crowd never stopped cheering," Malinin said. "It's honestly why this is a very special sport, because not a lot of sports you have that privilege of not only being an athlete, but you're also an artist."

Liu's story shows that stepping back doesn't mean giving up. She left skating when it stopped bringing joy, then returned on her own terms with complete creative control over her music, choreography, and costumes.

The San Francisco Bay area native provided input on every detail of her programs, embracing an individualistic style that set her apart. Her authenticity resonated beyond the rink, proving that being yourself can be the most powerful performance of all.