Alysa Liu wins figure skating gold, ending 24-year US drought

The 20-year-old from the San Francisco Bay Area delivered the U.S. its first women's figure skating gold medal since 2002.

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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Alysa Liu, a 20-year-old from the San Francisco Bay Area, won the figure skating gold medal at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, ending a 24-year drought for the U.S. women's team. Liu, who had previously stepped away from the sport before making a comeback, delivered a near-flawless free skate performance to finish with 226.79 points and upstage Japanese skaters Kaori Sakamoto and Ami Nakai, who took silver and bronze respectively.

Why it matters

Liu's gold medal is the first for an American woman in figure skating since 2002, marking a significant milestone for the U.S. team. Her journey of stepping away from the sport and then finding her way back showcases the importance of mental health and perseverance in athletic success.

The details

In her free skate, Liu landed a series of impressive jumps, including a triple flip, to secure the gold medal. She had previously won team gold with teammate Amber Glenn. Liu's victory came after a difficult period where she had retired from the sport due to burnout, only to make a comeback a couple of years ago.

  • Liu won the first of her back-to-back U.S. national titles at age 13.
  • She finished sixth at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, after which she retired from the sport.
  • Liu spent the next two years pursuing other interests, including studying psychology at UCLA.
  • She began considering a comeback to figure skating a couple of years ago.
  • Liu won the gold medal at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics on February 20, 2026.

The players

Alysa Liu

A 20-year-old figure skater from the San Francisco Bay Area who won the gold medal in women's figure skating at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, ending a 24-year drought for the U.S. women's team.

Kaori Sakamoto

A Japanese figure skater who won the silver medal in women's figure skating at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. Sakamoto is a three-time world champion who plans to retire after this season.

Ami Nakai

A 17-year-old Japanese figure skater who won the bronze medal in women's figure skating at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.

Amber Glenn

An American figure skater who finished fifth in the women's competition at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, and helped the U.S. team win the team gold medal.

Adeliia Petrosian

An 18-year-old Russian figure skater competing as a neutral athlete at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.

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What they’re saying

“That's what I'm f—————— talking about!”

— Alysa Liu (kpug1170.com)

“Her story of taking a step back, mental health, I think it really attests to you never know what the journey to success is going to be. I really hope that can reach the skating community, that it's OK to take time.”

— Amber Glenn, U.S. figure skater (kpug1170.com)

“I'm really regretful. I feel like I'm so disappointed, to be honest.”

— Kaori Sakamoto, Japanese figure skater (kpug1170.com)

“I feel a little ashamed, for myself, for the federation, for my coaches and for the spectators that it went this way. I understand that it's my own fault.”

— Adeliia Petrosian, Russian figure skater (kpug1170.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

Alysa Liu's gold medal victory at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics marks a significant milestone for the U.S. women's figure skating team, ending a 24-year drought. Her journey of stepping away from the sport and then making a comeback showcases the importance of mental health and perseverance in achieving athletic success.