Alysa Liu wins gold for USA in women

Alyssa Liu won a gold medal in women’s singles figure skating on Thursday, making her the first American woman to reach the Olympic podium in the event since 2006. Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto took silver and Ami Nakai, also of Japan, took bronze.

The last American woman to win a medal in individual figure skating was Sasha Cohen, who took home silver in 2006. Sarah Hughes was the last American woman to take home a gold medal, in 2002, four years before Liu was born. Michelle Kwan also won a bronze medal at those Olympics. This is Liu’s second gold medal.

“I just like it, I can’t process this. There’s no way,” Liu could be heard telling his coaches as he walked down the hallway after winning.

Liu, 20, began the free skate in third place, behind Japan’s Nakai and Sakamoto, after Tuesday’s short program. Isabeau Levito, 18, placed eighth, while Amber Glenn, 26, placed 13th after an error in her short program.

Glenn was the first American skater to take to the ice for her free skate. After not completing a triple loop on Tuesdayhis score when participating in the free skate was 67.39. During Thursday’s skate, he landed a triple axel, although he had to hold on with his hand after nearly falling during his final loop. He earned a score of 147.52, for a total score of 214.91.

Photos captured Glenn hugging his coach after skating. Glenn seemed visibly excited, smiling and jumping for joy. Despite entering the free skate in 13th place, she was at the top of the leaderboard for much of the event, and was eventually unseated by Japanese skater Mone Chiba. Glenn finished the competition in fifth place and Chiba took fourth place.

Liu praised Glenn’s return in a brief interview with an NBC Olympics correspondent.

“She did great. I saw her on the bus on the way here and, wow, she did great, and I’m so happy for her,” Liu said.

Levito was the next American woman to skate. He took the ice with a score of 70.84 in his short program. She fell on the landing of her opening triple flip, losing nine points, but recovered to skate through the rest of her routine.

Levito seemed disappointed after leaving the ice, even as Glenn encouraged her. She also seemed excited when her score of 131.96 was read. Levito accumulated a total score of 202.80 and placed 12th overall.

Liu was the last American competitor and the second-to-last skater to take the ice. She seemed calm during her warm-up, waving to spectators as she rehearsed. After his light-hearted short program, he entered the court with a score of 76.59. Liu looked casual and energetic during her free skate, navigating through a triple lutz and a triple salchow. He had a wide smile on his face throughout the event and the crowd roared every time he performed a jump.

Liu looked particularly comfortable during her choreographed step sequences and finished the routine triumphantly as her family rose to a standing ovation.

Liu’s score was 150.20, for a total score of 226.79.

“That’s what the fuck I’m talking about!” he yelled at the camera after finishing his skate. She jumped off the ice to hug her coaches and was heard saying, “That was great!” while they handed him his skate protectors. Glenn and Liu were also seen hugging.

“I was very calm when I started,” Liu said after the competition. “I have this breathing technique that I use throughout this show, and I just made sure to focus on it, be as gentle as possible, and look at the crowd during all of my transitions.”

“I did that and I felt everyone’s energy. I felt my energy,” he said, adding that he felt like he “put it all out there.”

On whether she is glad to have returned to the sport in 2024, after retiring at the age of 16 following the 2022 Beijing Winter Games, Liu said: “It was perfect.”

Sakamoto won silver for her skating to a medley of Edith Piaf songs. He missed a triple jump, but otherwise skated cleanly and hugged Liu after she came off the ice.

Nakai struggled with some of her jumps, but the high difficulty of her routine meant she still took home the bronze medal. Liu and Nakai also hugged after Nakai’s score was read.

The United States also took gold in the team skating event earlier at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Games.