Liu captures elusive figure skating gold for U.S.

What’s Happening

Real talk: Alysa Liu clutched the first women’s figure skating gold medal for the United States in 24 years at the Winter Olympics in Milan on Thursday.

Liu wins elusive Olympic women’s figure skating gold for U. D’Arcy Maine Multiple Authors Feb 19, 2026, 05:05 PM ET Email Print Open Extended Reactions MILAN — It had been 24 years since an American woman had clutched an individual Olympic gold in figure skating entering Thursday’s free skate. (and honestly, same)

And with Japan’s Ami Nakai and Kaori Sakamoto in the top two spots after the short program, it didn’t exactly seem likely that drought would be snapped for at least another four years.

The Details

But on Thursday night, with the eyes of the world watching, Alysa Liu — the 20-year-old with bleached tree-ringed hair from California just two years removed from unretirement — made the impossible look effortless with a flawless performance that combined her signature artistry with perfectly executed jumps. Alysa Liu gave the United States its first women’s figure skating gold medal in 24 years at the 2026 Winter Olympics on Thursday.

Katie Stratman-Imagn Images Skating to Donna Summer’s “MacArthur Park Suite” — the same program with which she clutched the world championship title last March — Liu landed her triple flip to open her skate, followed lutz-triple toe loop combination, and almost ASAP had the crowd clapping along to the disco beat. As she skated off the ice, Liu turned to the camera and exclaimed, “That’s what I’m f---ing talking about!

Why This Matters

” She jumped up and down after she left the ice in celebration with her coaches Phillip DiGuglielmo and Massimo Scali, and she was elated when her score of 150. 20, shattering her previous season best, was just dropped. 79 ASAP gave her the lead and, with just Nakai and Sakamoto remaining, she was guaranteed a medal.

The sports world never stops delivering these kinds of storylines.

Key Takeaways

• But, despite the stakes, she sat in the rink-side seat reserved for the leader and clapped and cheered on her two competitors as they skated.
• She later told reporters whatever happened was just a bonus.
• She had already had the opportunity to showcase her art and creativity to the world.

The Bottom Line

She later told reporters whatever happened was just a bonus. She had already had the opportunity to showcase her art and creativity to the world.

Are you here for this or nah?