U.S. figure skater Alysa Liu (226.79) finally took the women’s individual figure skating gold at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Games, in a podium completed by Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto (224.90) and Ami Nakai (219.16).
The now 20-year-old U.S. skating wunderkind, who retired in 2022 due to pressure and decided to return to compete on her own terms in 2024, nailed the free program, with three of her seven jumps coming in the second half of the exercise.
Shines and signs historic performance
Alysa Liu, reigning world champion, couldn’t hide her smile even while skating.
She earned her best score of the season in the free program (150.20) and lifetime best overall (226.79) to take the gold medal.
Silver went to Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto (224.90).
It was her last time skating at the international level and the emotions overwhelmed her, for better and for worse.
He only did two combinations, when the requirement in the free program is to do three, because he missed a triple flip that he should have linked with a triple toe loop.
Even so, her brilliant execution of the choreographic elements and her very high score in artistic components (74.84), in addition to the slight advantage she had from the short exercise, allowed her to take second place, improving on the bronze she won in Beijing 2022.
Nakai completes podium and closes skating
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She couldn't hide her smile even while skating
QuéOnnda.com
The bronze went to her compatriot Ami Nakai (219.16), who had been the best in the short program.
He missed one of his combinations, leaving in a double jump a toe loop that should have been a triple.
But his technical score remained among the highest of the session thanks in no small part to his triple Axel.
The reigning Four Continents and Grand Prix silver medalist, just 17 years old, needed to come within one point of her season’s best (149.08) to beat Alysa Liu.
She finished her exercise with a gesture of doubt, knowing that she might not make it to the podium.
But the 140.45 points he received were enough for bronze.
It is the last medal for figure skating at these Games.
All disciplines already have their champions:
United States in the team event, Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron in ice dance.
Mikhail Shaidorov in men’s singles, Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara in pairs and now Alysa Liu in women’s singles.
With information from EFE
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