Alysa Liu Wins Olympic Gold in Stunning Comeback

The 20-year-old American figure skater's incredible life story now includes an Olympic gold medal victory.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Alysa Liu, the 20-year-old American figure skater, won the gold medal in the women's singles event at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy. Liu's victory marks the end of a 24-year gold medal drought for U.S. women's figure skating. After finishing sixth at the 2022 Olympics, Liu took a break from the sport, but returned two years later to stun the competition with a captivating free skate performance.

Why it matters

Liu's Olympic gold medal win is a remarkable achievement, not just for her athletic prowess, but also for the incredible personal story behind her journey. As the youngest U.S. national champion ever at age 13, Liu's career has been marked by both triumph and adversity, including being targeted by Chinese spies due to her father's pro-democracy activism. Her comeback to the top of the sport is an inspiring tale of resilience and determination.

The details

In her free skate performance, Liu wowed the crowd with her technical mastery and elegant artistry, landing a series of difficult jumps and spins that earned her the gold medal. The victory places Liu among the pantheon of great U.S. women's figure skaters, joining the likes of Dorothy Hamill, Peggy Fleming, and Kristi Yamaguchi.

  • Liu became the youngest U.S. national champion ever at age 13 in 2019.
  • She finished sixth at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
  • Liu took a break from the sport after the 2022 Olympics.
  • She returned to competition two years later and won gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan on February 19, 2026.

The players

Alysa Liu

A 20-year-old American figure skater who won the gold medal in the women's singles event at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy.

Arthur Liu

Alysa Liu's father, who fled from China after organizing protests and hunger strikes around the time of the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989.

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What they’re saying

“My program is very fun and I feel really confident. And this is my favorite dress of all time, so that's kind of big.”

— Alysa Liu (yahoo.com)

“I want to be a storyteller. I think my story is pretty cool and so I hope that inspires some people as well.”

— Alysa Liu (yahoo.com)

“Most important part of our story is human connection. Really that's all I want in my life is human connection and damn now connect with a hell of ton of people.”

— Alysa Liu (yahoo.com)

What’s next

Liu is scheduled to perform in the Olympic gala exhibition on Saturday, February 21, 2026, where she plans to showcase a special program in a unique dress.

The takeaway

Alysa Liu's remarkable comeback to win Olympic gold after a break from the sport is a testament to her resilience and determination. Her inspiring personal story, which includes overcoming adversity and finding her voice as a 'storyteller,' has captivated audiences and solidified her place among the greats of U.S. women's figure skating.