Alysa Liu wins Olympic gold, first for U.S. since 2002

The 20-year-old American figure skater delivers a historic performance at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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Alysa Liu won the women's figure skating gold medal at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, becoming the first American woman to win the event since 2002. The 20-year-old delivered a near-flawless free skate performance to finish with 226.79 points, upstaging Japan's Kaori Sakamoto and Ami Nakai who took silver and bronze. This was Liu's second gold medal of the Games, as she had also helped the U.S. win the team event.

Why it matters

Liu's victory ends a 24-year drought for the U.S. in women's figure skating at the Olympics, a once-dominant event for American skaters. Her performance showcases the strength of the current U.S. women's figure skating team, known as the 'Blade Angels', which includes other top contenders like Amber Glenn and Isabeau Levito.

The details

Liu, who was the youngest U.S. champion ever at age 13, had a rocky road to the Olympics. After finishing sixth in Beijing, she briefly retired due to burnout, but returned to the sport and is now one of the world's top competitors. In Milan, she landed a near-perfect free skate to claim the gold medal, the first for an American woman since Sarah Hughes in 2002.

  • Alysa Liu won the women's figure skating gold medal on February 20, 2026 at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.
  • Liu also helped the U.S. win the team gold medal earlier in the Games.

The players

Alysa Liu

A 20-year-old American figure skater who won the women's figure skating gold medal at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, becoming the first American woman to win the event since 2002.

Kaori Sakamoto

A Japanese figure skater who won the silver medal in the women's event at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.

Ami Nakai

A Japanese figure skater who won the bronze medal in the women's event at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.

Amber Glenn

A 26-year-old American figure skater and three-time consecutive U.S. national champion who finished fifth overall at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.

Isabeau Levito

An 18-year-old American figure skater representing the next generation of U.S. contenders, who finished off the podium at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

Alysa Liu's historic gold medal win ends a 24-year drought for the U.S. in women's figure skating at the Olympics, showcasing the strength of the current American team and the promising future of the sport in the country.