What a night it was in Milan! On February 19, 2026, Alysa Liu delivered a show-stopping performance and made history, becoming the first American woman in 24 years to win Olympic gold in figure skating at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. Her triumph not only ended Team USA’s long drought in women’s singles figure skating but also capped off an incredible comeback story that’s already inspiring skaters and fans across the globe.
Liu, just 20 years old and hailing from the Bay Area, scored a career-best 226.79 points, dazzling the judges and audience alike with her technical prowess and infectious confidence. The last time an American woman stood atop the Olympic podium in this event was back in 2002, when Sarah Hughes captured gold at the Salt Lake City Games. Since then, Team USA had come up short, with Sasha Cohen’s 2006 silver the only singles medal for American women in the intervening years.
But Liu, who started skating at age five at the Oakland Ice Center and was homeschooled through California Connections Academy, has never been one to shy away from big moments. She first burst onto the scene as a 13-year-old, becoming the youngest national champion in U.S. women’s singles history in 2019. Her journey, however, has been anything but straightforward.
At the 2022 Beijing Olympics, Liu nearly missed her chance to compete after a positive Covid-19 test at the U.S. championships, but she rallied and finished sixth in Beijing, then took bronze at the World Figure Skating Championships. The constant grind took its toll, and in April 2022, Liu shocked the skating world by announcing her retirement. “Heyyyyy so I’m here to announce that I am retiring from skating,” she wrote at the time. “I started skating when I was 5 so that’s about 11 years on the ice and it’s been an insane 11 years. A lot of good and a lot of bad but (you know) that’s just how it is.”
Stepping away gave Liu a chance to reconnect with her family and friends after years of intense training. “I started when I was 5, and I basically didn’t stop until 16, and I was homeschooled my whole life,” Liu told NBC News. “And I’m a very social person. I crave human connection.” She relished the simple joys of hanging out with her siblings and attending friends’ birthday parties, saying, “I felt so human for the first time.”
But the ice was calling her back. Nearly two years after her retirement, U.S. Figure Skating announced Liu’s return. And what a return it’s been! Not only did she play a crucial role in helping Team USA win gold in the team event earlier at these Games, but she also faced enormous pressure as the only American woman to qualify for the podium after the short program. Teammates Amber Glenn and Isabeau Levito didn’t advance, leaving Liu as the nation’s sole hope in the singles event.
Liu’s free skate was a masterclass in athleticism and artistry. She landed all her jumps, maintained poise with a breathing technique she’s honed over years of competition, and radiated confidence throughout. “I was so calm when I started. I have this breathing technique that I use throughout this program, and I was just making sure to lock in on that, be as smooth as I can and look out into the crowd during all my transitions,” Liu revealed to reporters after her win. “I did that, and I felt everyone’s energy. I felt my energy. I feel good, I feel confident and I put it all out there.”
The tension in the arena was palpable as Japanese rivals Kaori Sakamoto and Ami Nakai delivered strong performances of their own. Sakamoto, a three-time world champion, finished just behind Liu with a combined score of 224.90, while Nakai’s final score of 219.16 earned her the bronze. As the judges reviewed Nakai’s routine, the crowd held its breath, but when the scores were finally announced, confirming Liu’s victory, the arena erupted in celebration.
Liu’s exuberance was impossible to miss. She skated over to a camera and shouted, “That’s what I’m fucking talking about!” before giving a jubilant shoutout to her hometown: “Oakland shoutout.” Her celebration didn’t end there – she lifted Nakai off the ice, sharing the spotlight and showing the kind of sportsmanship that’s made her a fan favorite.
It wasn’t just her skating that drew headlines. Liu’s unique stripey hairstyle and self-pierced frenulum, done with the help of her sister, caught the attention of the media, making her a standout not just in sports pages but in pop culture coverage as well. “I kind of want to be a tree,” she joked about her hairstyle. Her individuality and authenticity have made her a role model for young athletes everywhere.
Before the event, Oakland legend Marshawn Lynch appeared on NBC and sent Liu a message: “Bring that [gold] back to The Town, man. Town business. Show ’em what you talking about.” And Liu certainly delivered, with politicians like California Governor Gavin Newsom and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez joining the chorus of congratulations on social media.
Liu’s story is remarkable not just for her athletic achievements but also for the adversity she’s overcome. Prior to the 2022 Beijing Games, she and her father were targets of a Chinese government spying operation, a situation she described as “a little bit freaky and exciting.” “You know what I mean? It’s so… unbelievable. You know what I mean like, that’s crazy,” she told Fox News Digital. She hasn’t ruled out the possibility of her story being adapted into a movie, saying, “They gotta make me look like super cool hero or something. And just, I can’t just be the kid that got spied on and did nothing about it.”
Her Olympic gold is her second of these Games, having also helped Team USA to victory in the team figure skating event. That’s a rare feat for any skater, let alone one who retired just four years ago. Amber Glenn, who finished fifth overall after rallying from 13th in the short program, also deserves credit for her resilience and determination.
Liu’s victory was part of a banner day for Team USA, with the women’s hockey team also capturing gold in a dramatic 2-1 overtime win over Canada. But it’s Liu’s story – from prodigy to retiree to Olympic champion – that will be remembered for years to come.
As Liu stood atop the podium, gold medal around her neck, the message was clear: she’s not just back – she’s better than ever. And for the first time in nearly a quarter-century, American figure skating fans have a new hero to celebrate.