Figure Skating Legend Tenley Albright Returns to Olympics 70 Years After Gold Medal Win

The 90-year-old Olympian cheered on Alysa Liu's gold medal performance at the 2026 Winter Games in Milan Cortina.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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Seventy years after winning gold in figure skating at the 1956 Cortina d'Ampezzo Winter Olympics, 90-year-old Tenley Albright returned to the Winter Games to watch American Alysa Liu take home the same prize. Albright, who was the first American female figure skater to win Olympic gold, was honored at an event in Milan and wore her original Team USA sweater from her Olympic year to watch the competition.

Why it matters

Albright's return to the Olympics 70 years after her historic gold medal win represents a symbolic passing of the torch in American figure skating. Her presence and continued involvement in the sport highlight the enduring legacy of pioneering female athletes and the ability of the Olympics to bring together generations of champions.

The details

Tenley Albright began skating at age 8 and overcame contracting polio at age 11 to become a world-class figure skater. She won silver at the 1952 Oslo Olympics before claiming gold in 1956 in Cortina d'Ampezzo, becoming the first American woman to do so. Despite injuring her ankle in training, Albright was able to compete and win gold. She retired soon after her Olympic triumph. Now 90 years old, Albright returned to the Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina to watch the women's figure skating competition and cheer on the current generation of American skaters, including gold medalist Alysa Liu.

  • Tenley Albright won gold at the 1956 Cortina d'Ampezzo Winter Olympics.
  • Albright returned to the Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina in 2026, 70 years after her own gold medal win.

The players

Tenley Albright

A 90-year-old American figure skating legend who won gold at the 1956 Cortina d'Ampezzo Winter Olympics, becoming the first American female figure skater to do so.

Alysa Liu

The American figure skater who won gold at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.

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What they’re saying

“I wasn't able to wear it because I had injured my ankle and wasn't able to parade in the opening ceremony.”

— Tenley Albright (Hello Magazine)

What’s next

Albright plans to continue attending figure skating events and supporting the next generation of American skaters.

The takeaway

Tenley Albright's return to the Olympics 70 years after her historic gold medal win is a powerful symbol of the enduring legacy of pioneering female athletes. Her presence and continued involvement in the sport inspire the current generation of figure skaters and remind us of the progress made in women's sports over the past seven decades.