The Milano Ice Skating Arena was electric on February 19, 2026, as Alysa Liu, the 20-year-old sensation from Oakland, made history at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. Liu became the first U.S. woman to capture Olympic figure skating gold since Sarah Hughes in 2002, breaking a two-decade drought and sending waves of excitement through the American skating community and beyond.
Liu’s journey to this golden moment has been anything but conventional. Just four years ago, she shocked the figure skating world by announcing her retirement at the age of 16. On social media, she wrote, “This skating thing has taught me a lot more about life than I anticipated. I’m really glad I skated.” She seemed, in her own words, “finally done with her goals.” But as fate would have it, Liu’s story was far from over.
Her comeback, announced by U.S. Figure Skating nearly two years after her departure, reignited the hopes of fans and brought her back to the sport with a newfound sense of joy and self-assurance. “I am grateful for both Olympic experiences but I feel like I am more gracious now because I have stuff that I want to share, and I want to be here,” Liu told reporters after her victory. “And I think that’s the difference from last time.”
On the big night in Milan, Liu performed a dazzling free skate set to Donna Summer’s “MacArthur Park Suite.” The routine was packed with sassy poses, effortless triple jumps, and an infectious, ear-to-ear grin that lit up the arena. Her signature raccoon-striped ponytail soared as she landed each jump with apparent ease, her carefree confidence drawing louder cheers from the crowd with every clean landing. “If I fell on every jump, I would still be wearing this dress,” Liu joked, referencing the sparkly new competition dress she debuted for the occasion. “What I needed was the stage, and I got that, so I was all good no matter what happened.”
Liu’s performance shot her straight to the top of the leaderboard, where she remained through the end of the night. The final results saw Kaori Sakamoto and Ami Nakai of Japan claim silver and bronze, respectively. Sakamoto, who had previously won bronze in Beijing, is retiring after these Olympics, while Nakai, just 17, was making her debut in the senior ranks. “I honestly didn’t think that I was going to win a medal, so when I found that out I was overjoyed,” Nakai told reporters through a translator. “Alysa Liu actually came up to me and said, ‘Congratulations, it’s amazing that you won a medal on your first Olympics.’”
It was a night of emotional moments and camaraderie. Liu exchanged long hugs with her coaches and the Japanese skaters, who were visibly moved. She also shared a heartwarming moment with teammate Amber Glenn, who finished fifth after a redemptive free skate. Glenn, who had slipped to 13th after a costly mistake in her earlier routine, nailed her triple axel and landed all her jumps in the free skate, moving into first place for a time before the final skaters took the ice. “I had to put on a show for them!” Liu said of her family and friends cheering in the stands. “I have to smile too, I have no poker face.”
Liu’s easygoing demeanor and authenticity have become her trademarks since her return to competition in 2024. Her unique style, including a self-done frenulum piercing and a hairstyle inspired by her desire “to kind of want to be a tree,” has drawn attention from both sports and lifestyle media. “I guess it’s doing stuff that people tell you you shouldn’t do. I’ve been doing a lot of that,” Liu said when asked what message her journey sends to others.
The Bay Area community rallied behind their hometown hero. A day before her performance, Oakland’s own Marshawn Lynch appeared on NBC and encouraged her: “Bring that [gold] back to The Town, man. Town business. Show ’em what you talking about.” After her win, Liu made sure to give her city a shoutout, lifting her index and pinky finger and declaring, “Oakland shoutout.” She even celebrated on the ice with an exuberant, “That’s what I’m fucking talking about.”
Liu’s path to Olympic glory began when she started skating at age five at the Oakland Ice Center. Homeschooled through California Connections Academy, she made history at just 13 by becoming the youngest U.S. national champion in women’s singles. Her career nearly took a detour at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, where a positive Covid-19 test at the U.S. championships almost kept her from competing. She managed to skate and finished sixth in the short program, an experience that shaped her approach to the sport.
After her initial retirement, Liu’s return to the ice was marked by a new passion and maturity. She captured the world championship in 2025, setting the stage for her triumphant Olympic comeback. At these Milan Cortina Games, she didn’t just win the individual gold — she also claimed gold in the team event, solidifying her status as a two-time Olympic champion. She leaves Milan as the first U.S. woman to win Olympic figure skating gold since 2002, a feat that has already inspired a new generation of skaters.
It wasn’t just Liu’s night, though. The U.S. team had its share of ups and downs. Amber Glenn’s fifth-place finish was a personal best, while Isabeau Levito, another member of the so-called "Blade Angels," finished in 12th. Elsewhere, U.S. ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates narrowly missed out on gold, and heavy favorite Ilia Malinin missed the podium, later citing Olympic pressure as a factor. When asked if she felt any of that pressure, Liu responded with a laugh, “You would have to explain what Olympic pressure is. Who is giving — who is the pressure?”
The Olympic excitement isn’t over yet. Liu, along with other medalists and fan favorites, is set to perform in the exhibition gala scheduled for February 22, 2026. The event promises a showcase of creativity and showmanship, free from the stress of competition. Liu, already dropping hints about a new program and costume, told reporters, “I want to be out there more.”
As the dust settles in Milan, Alysa Liu’s comeback, her vibrant personality, and her historic achievement have become the talk of the skating world. Whether she continues to compete or chooses another path, one thing is clear: Alysa Liu has already left an indelible mark on figure skating, and her gold medal moment will be remembered for years to come.