Alysa Liu Wins Gold, Ends 24-Year U.S. Figure Skating Drought

For the first time since 2002, an American woman stands atop the Olympic podium in figure skating singles, and Alysa Liu made sure everyone knew she earned it.

Liu delivered a flawless performance Thursday in Milan, landing every jump with a smile that grew wider with each rotation. When her skates finally stopped, she erupted in raw celebration, shouting in disbelief as the crowd roared around her.

Her total score of 226.79 secured the gold, but not without nerve-wracking drama. Japanese skaters Kaori Sakamoto and Ami Nakai pushed her to the edge, with Nakai's final score creating palpable tension in the arena as judges reviewed every detail. When the scoreboard confirmed Liu's win, the explosion of cheers said everything about how long America had waited for this moment.

The last American woman to medal in singles figure skating was Sasha Cohen in 2006. The last gold medalist was Sarah Hughes in 2002, back when the Games were held in Salt Lake City.

Liu carried the weight of those 24 years alone after her teammates Amber Glenn and Isabeau Levito didn't advance past Tuesday's short program. The pressure could have crushed her, but instead she channeled it into the performance of her life.

Why This Inspires

Liu's gold shines even brighter considering where she's been. She briefly retired after the 2022 Beijing Games, stepping away from the sport entirely before mounting a dramatic comeback that helped Team USA win gold in the team event earlier this week.

Her journey includes something most athletes never face. Liu and her father were targets of a Chinese government spying operation before the Beijing Games because of her father's activist work. She learned about it at a young age, describing the experience as "freaky and exciting" in equal measure.

Rather than let fear define her story, Liu turned it into fuel. She's even considered having her experience adapted into a movie, though she insists any film should focus on her father's courage as an activist. "His story is so cool," she told reporters last fall. "We got to start with the roots."

Now 20, Liu has written her own chapter, one that ends with gold around her neck and a drought officially over.

America's newest Olympic champion proved that comebacks aren't just possible, they can be golden.