(Photo: Stephanie Scarbrough/AP)
MILAN, Italy — February 19, 2026 — Alysa Liu has etched her name into the history books, winning the women’s individual gold medal in a triumphant return to the sport. After briefly retiring following the 2022 Beijing Games, Liu returned to the ice in 2024 with a renewed spirit, and today she became the first American woman to win Olympic individual gold since 2002.
Entering the free skate in third place, Liu delivered a near-flawless performance to a Donna Summer medley, landing seven clean triple jumps with effortless grace. Her free skate score of 150.20 gave her a total of 226.79, allowing her to edge out Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto and Ami Nakai.
The “Comeback Kid”: At just 20 years old, Liu is a veteran of the sport. She was the youngest skater to ever win a U.S. National Championship at age 13. Her gold medal ends a long drought for U.S. women’s skating, which had not seen an individual champion since Sarah Hughes in Salt Lake City.
Fun Fact: Liu credits her “retirement” with saving her love for the sport. During her time away, she focused on being a “normal teenager” and attending university, which she says helped her handle the immense pressure of the Milan arena.