Team USA's Alysa Liu Aims to End Olympic Figure Skating Medal Drought

The 20-year-old is the last American standing after a tough short program for the U.S. team.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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Team USA was hoping to end a 20-year Olympic women's figure skating medal drought at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games, but a tough short program has left only Alysa Liu in contention heading into the final free skate. Liu sits in third place, just over two points behind the leader, Japan's Ami Nakai. The rest of the U.S. team, including Amber Glenn and Isabeau Levito, struggled in the short program and will not be factors in the medal race.

Why it matters

The U.S. has not had a woman stand atop an Olympic figure skating podium since Sarah Hughes in 2002, and no American woman has medaled at all since Sasha Cohen in 2006. Liu's strong short program has given the U.S. its best chance in years to end this drought, but she will have to fend off tough competition from Japan and the neutral athlete Adeliia Petrosian, who could attempt a high-risk quadruple jump in the free skate.

The details

Liu scored a career-best 76.59 points in the short program, leaving her just over two points behind leader Nakai and less than a point back from second-place Kaori Sakamoto, also of Japan. The rest of the U.S. team struggled, with Amber Glenn missing a crucial triple loop and Isabeau Levito making enough smaller mistakes to fall out of medal contention. Petrosian, competing as a neutral athlete, sits in fifth place and could attempt a quadruple jump in the free skate, which could boost her score significantly.

  • The women's figure skating free skate begins at 12 p.m. CT on Thursday, February 20, 2026.
  • The medal event will re-air at 7 p.m. CT and 8:30 p.m. CT on the same day.

The players

Alysa Liu

A 20-year-old American figure skater who is the last remaining U.S. contender for a medal after a tough short program for the rest of the American team.

Ami Nakai

A Japanese figure skater who leads the competition after the short program with a career-best score of 78.71 points.

Kaori Sakamoto

A Japanese figure skater who sits in second place after the short program with a score of 77.23 points.

Adeliia Petrosian

A figure skater competing as a neutral athlete who sits in fifth place after the short program and could attempt a high-risk quadruple jump in the free skate.

Amber Glenn

An American figure skater who struggled in the short program, missing a crucial triple loop and falling to 13th place.

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What they’re saying

“I'm OK if I do a fail program. I'm totally OK if I do a great program. No matter what the outcome is, it's still my story.”

— Alysa Liu (nbcchicago.com)

What’s next

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The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.