MILAN, Italy (Diya TV) — Alysa Liu stood at center ice, soaking in the cheers as Donna Summer’s “MacArthur Park” echoed through the Milano Ice Skating Arena. Two years after walking away from figure skating, the 20-year-old American completed one of the sport’s most remarkable comebacks. Liu won Olympic gold in women’s figure skating Thursday night at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games. She became the first U.S. woman to capture the title in 24 years.  Her victory ended a long drought for Team USA and confirmed her place among the sport’s elite.

Liu entered the free skate in third place after scoring 76.59 points in her short program to Laufey’s “Promise.” She trailed Japan’s Ami Nakai by just over two points. She delivered when it mattered most. Liu skated with speed, control, and joy. She attacked every jump with confidence. Her edges stayed sharp. Her spins hit high levels. The crowd roared as she struck her final pose.

She scored 150.20 in the free skate, just shy of her personal best. Her total score of 226.79 lifted her into first place. No one could catch her. Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto took silver with 224.90. Nakai earned bronze after minor errors in her free skate dropped her from first. Mone Chiba of Japan finished fourth. American Amber Glenn placed fifth after a strong comeback performance.

Liu waited rinkside as the final scores appeared. When Nakai’s numbers fell short, Liu smiled, then leaped into her coach’s arms. She did not remove her blade covers before celebrating.

Liu became the first American woman to win Olympic gold in figure skating since Sarah Hughes at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games. In the 1990s and early 2000s, the United States dominated women’s figure skating. Tara Lipinski won gold in 1998. Kristi Yamaguchi claimed gold in 1992. Michelle Kwan, Nancy Kerrigan, and others filled podiums.

Then the medals stopped. The U.S. went four straight Olympic cycles without a medal in women’s singles. Liu dramatically ended that drought. She also earned her second gold medal of the Milano Cortina Games after helping Team USA win the team event earlier in the week. Her victory marked the first individual Olympic gold for an American figure skater since Nathan Chen won in Beijing in 2022.

Liu’s story stretches back nearly a decade. At 12, she became the youngest female skater to land a triple axel in international competition. At 13, she won the U.S. Championships, landing multiple triple axels. She later became the first American woman to land a quadruple jump in competition.

She made her Olympic debut at 16 at the 2022 Beijing Games. Weeks later, she won a bronze medal at the world championships. Then she stunned the skating world by retiring. She said she felt burned out. The COVID-19 pandemic had changed her perspective. She wanted freedom and a life outside strict training schedules.

In 2024, Liu returned. She said she had rediscovered her love for skating. She took control of her music, choreography, and costumes. She called it “round two.” That second chapter quickly produced results. She won a world title in 2025, ending a 19-year world championship drought for American women. Now she owns Olympic gold.

Liu no longer performs a triple axel or a quadruple jump. But she does not need them. She skates with maturity and artistry. She blends technical precision with personality. Her programs show strength and confidence. Many elite women peak in their mid-teens when lighter frames make jumps easier. Liu challenges that idea. She shows that older, stronger skaters can thrive with experience and emotional depth.

She skates like someone who understands her journey. She smiles. She connects with the crowd. She competes without visible fear. Her free skate in Milan reflected that freedom. She performed not just for medals, but for herself.

Liu said earlier this season that she chose to return. She wanted to control her destiny. On Thursday night, she fulfilled that goal. She brought U.S. women’s figure skating back to the top of the Olympic podium. She inspired a new generation of skaters. And she proved that stepping away does not mean the story is over.

Sometimes, it makes the ending even better. Alysa Liu’s Olympic gold in Milan will stand as one of the great comeback stories in Winter Games history.