Alysa Liu has a gold medal and a heart of gold.
The 20-year-old UCLA student entered the Milan Cortina Olympics figure skating final Thursday in third, but vaulted to the gold medal position after a masterpiece on ice. Skating to Donna Summer’s version of “MacArthur Park,” Liu was sensational, earning a score of 226.79 points to position her on top of the podium ahead of Kaori Sakamoto and Japanese teammate Ami Nakai.
From there, it was a tense waiting game for Liu as she watched the final two skaters — Sakamoto and Nakai — respond with stunning performances of their own. At stake was the United States’ first women’s gold medal in a women’s single figure skating event since 2002 and the first medal of any kind since 2006.
Liu was asked Thursday about her thoughts when all she could do was watch and wait.
“I’m thinking, I want them to do really well,” Liu, who finished sixth at the Beijing Olympics before retiring and returning to the sport. “Because I love those girls. Ami’s so cute, and it’s her first Olympics. She’s only 17. She killed it. She’s so strong. And, I love that.
“And Kaori, this is her last season, so watching her was so special to me. She’s about to retire. That’s wild, and I respect her so much.”
In the end, Liu’s score held with Sakamoto earning silver and Nakai taking bronze.
Mariah Bell reacts to Alysa Liu’s free skate that secured the gold medal.
The gold was Liu’s second of the Milan Cortina Olympics, having won gold in the team event.
“If I had a nickel for every gold medal I have here,” Liu joked, “I would have two!”
A UCLA student from Oakland and the daughter of a Chinese immigrant, Liu was 13 when she became the youngest U.S. figure skating champion. She was just 16 when she competed in Beijing, but retired for two years that included backpacking trips with friends and studying psychology at UCLA.
Her comeback came with new perspective.
“Honestly, it was more than just work, it was experience,” Liu said. “The last time I was skating, it was so rough. I genuinely can’t begin to start on it. It took a lot to get to this point, and studying psychology has really helped. I love psychology.
After Alysa Liu’s unfiltered moment in the kiss and cry, Olympic figure skater Mariah Bell shares why she finds Liu’s authenticity so inspiring.
“All I want in my life is human connection and, damn, now I am connected with a hell of a ton of people.”
The Milan Cortina Olympics are Feb. 6 to Feb. 22. Click here for a full events schedule. The Winter Paralympics are March to March 15 in Italy.
Los Angeles is the Olympics’ next stop in 2028. The LA 2028 Olympics Opening Ceremony is July 14, 2028 with competition through July 30, 2028. The LA28 Paralympic Games will kick off Aug. 15, 2028 and close Aug. 27, 2028.
The Olympics will return to Los Angeles for an historic third time in 2028, but this will be the city’s first time as host of the Paralympic Games.
Allison Craig is a passionate sports writer and analyst with a deep love for game strategies, player performances, and the latest trends in the sports world. With years of experience covering football, basketball, tennis, and more, she delivers insightful analysis and engaging content for sports enthusiasts.
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