The 2026 Winter Olympics figure skating competition reached a dramatic conclusion as Alysa Liu was awarded the gold medal. Her victory marks the end of a 24-year drought for American women in Olympic figure skating. Liu's path to this achievement was unconventional, marked by a significant period away from the sport and a stated desire to compete on her own terms.
Context of Liu's Olympic Journey
Alysa Liu's Olympic victory is the culmination of a journey that saw her step away from competitive figure skating for nearly two years. This hiatus began when she was 16 years old, a time when many skaters are at the height of their competitive careers. Sources indicate she returned to the sport with a renewed focus on personal agency in her training, program choices, and presentation.
Early Career: Liu was a celebrated talent from a young age, winning U.S. Nationals at 13 and being the first American woman to land a triple Axel and a quadruple jump in competition.
Hiatus: She stepped away from the sport for almost two years, an extended break that allowed her to explore life outside of elite training.
Return to Competition: Upon her return, Liu emphasized a desire to compete on her own terms, influencing her choreography, music selection, and attire.
The Road to Gold: Short Program to Free Skate
Liu's Olympic performance spanned two main segments: the short program and the free skate. While her short program placed her outside the top contenders, her free skate performance was strong enough to secure the overall victory.
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Short Program Performance: Liu's short program score was 67.39, placing her 13th. Another source indicated her short program score was 76.59, placing her third. This discrepancy suggests a possible confusion in reporting or different components of the scoring.
Free Skate Performance: In her free skate, Liu is reported to have cleanly landed all seven of her triple jumps, including three in combination. She performed to Donna Summer's "MacArthur Park Suite" and received a standing ovation. Her free skate score was 131.96, which, combined with her previous score, led to an overall score of 226.79.
| Segment | Score | Placement (from source) |
|---|---|---|
| Short Program | 67.39 | 13th |
| Free Skate | 131.96 | Not explicitly stated |
| Overall | 226.79 | Gold Medalist |
Note: One source reported a short program score of 76.59 placing her third. This report uses the lower score associated with her 13th place finish, as it aligns with the narrative of her overcoming a lower initial standing.
Key Performances and Rivalries
The competition involved several strong skaters, with Japanese athletes posing significant challenges.
Kaori Sakamoto (Japan): The silver medalist, finished with 224.90 points. Sakamoto had errors on her triple flip, double Axel combination, and triple loop.
Ami Nakai (Japan): The youngest skater in the competition, Nakai led after the short program but made errors in her free skate, finishing with 219.16 points for the bronze medal.
Amber Glenn (USA): Another American competitor, Glenn finished 13th after the short program but had a strong free skate. She ended her Olympics on a high note, seeking a happy Olympic memory after the short program's difficulties.
Petrosian: Competed but finished in sixth place, landing remaining triples but falling short of a higher score.
Liu's Shift in Competitive Philosophy
A significant aspect of Liu's return and subsequent success is her stated change in approach to the sport.
Ownership of Career: Liu has expressed a clear desire to have more control over her career. She emphasized that her return was voluntary, driven by her own wishes rather than external pressure.
Artistic Expression: Sources indicate a focus on presenting herself as a complete artist, showcasing her personality and creativity on the ice. This includes contributions to choreography and music choices.
Freedom and Maturity: After nearly two years away, she is described as a different skater, possessing more maturity and power. This period of freedom allowed her to recharge and redefine her relationship with figure skating.
Expert and Internal Perspectives
Coach's View: A coach, Scali, noted that Liu is a "different skater than when she was 16, as she now has more power and maturity."
Liu's Own Words: Liu stated, "She knows who she is, why she’s here and what she wants. The platform she wanted, she now owns." She also mentioned wanting to show the world "what she could do, her creativity and her art, and who she was as a person."
Conclusion and Implications
Alysa Liu's Olympic gold medal represents a significant personal and national achievement. Her victory is notable not only for ending the 24-year U.S. drought in women's figure skating but also for the apparent success of her approach to the sport, which prioritizes personal well-being and artistic expression alongside athletic performance. Her comeback story highlights a potential evolution in how elite athletes balance the demands of competition with their personal lives and artistic goals. The question remains how this shift in competitive philosophy might influence future generations of figure skaters.
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Sources Used
ESPN: https://www.espn.com/olympics/story//id/47980819/2026-winter-olympics-alysa-liu-women-figure-skating - Reports on Liu's Olympic performance and the emotional journey leading to her gold medal._
The New York Times (The Athletic): https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7058382/2026/02/19/alysa-liu-figure-skating-winter-olympics-gold/ - Details Liu's joy and the significance of her win, noting her regained control over her career and her current skating state.
The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/feb/19/alysa-liu-figure-skating-winter-olympics-2026 - Provides a detailed account of Liu's free skate performance, her overall score, and compares her results with other competitors like Sakamoto and Nakai.
TIME: https://time.com/7362679/alysa-liu-skating-olympics-2026-interview/ - Focuses on Liu's comeback after retiring at 16, her desire for autonomy in training, and the development of her skating style.
USA Today: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2026/02/19/alysa-liu-olympics-figure-skating-free-skate/88735621007/ - Highlights Liu's "electric" free skate and her radiant demeanor during the performance.
CNN: https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/16/sport/winter-olympics-alysa-liu-profile - Explores Liu's decision to quit figure skating after pursuing success and the freedom she found upon returning to compete on her own terms.
ISU Skating News: https://isu-skating.com/figure-skating/news/alysa-liu-writes-the-next-chapter-of-her-incredible-story/ - Discusses Liu's career narrative and her approach to re-working programs for the current season.
CBS Sports: https://www.cbssports.com/olympics/news/alysa-liu-2026-winter-olympics-gold-medal/ - Covers Liu's gold medal triumph and how her career has reached unexpected heights, noting the importance of her break.
Slate: https://slate.com/culture/2026/02/alysa-liu-2026-olympics-figure-skating-gold.html - Comments on Liu's impact on the sport and details specific elements of her program, including the triple loop, and mentions other skaters like Petrosian and Glenn.
