Alisa Liu’s Remarkable Comeback

Alisa Liu has made quite the return to figure skating.

Just under two years after coming out of retirement, she captured America’s first women’s figure skating medal in two decades. This time, it’s gold—marking the first win since 2002.

Liu has now become the eighth American to secure a gold medal in women’s figure skating.

With a performance that was not only flawless but also filled with energy, Liu seemed to laugh in the face of pressure. She managed to leap from third place after the short program all the way to the top of the podium.

She surpassed the Japanese pair of Kaiori Sakamoto and Ami Nakai.

Nakai, just 17 years old, had a lead after the short program. However, after missing a triple-triple combo but landing a triple axel, she ultimately ended up in third place. Meanwhile, Sakamoto took home the silver.

In a touching moment, Liu and her American teammate Amber Glenn stood together, exchanging high-fives and holding hands while waiting for Nakai’s score to be announced.

When it came down to it, Liu’s combined score of 226.79 established a comfortable lead.

Wearing a sleek gold costume, Liu began her high-energy routine with a triple flip, followed by a triple Lutz-triple toe combination, and then glided around the ice with flair.

Once she finished, it was hard to contain her excitement as she jumped in joy, rushing to her coach.

When her free skate score popped up, exceeding 150 points, a look of realization swept over her face.

This triumph capped off an incredible comeback story. Liu first gained attention as a teenage prodigy by winning the U.S. Championship in 2019, but then retired in April 2022, citing burnout. Yet, by March 2024, she was back, winning silver in the next two national championships.

Glenn finished fifth, while fellow American Isabeau Levitt came in twelfth.

Glenn’s own journey back included a near-perfect performance, earning herself a season-best score of 147.42 in the free skate. This had briefly put her in first place with a total score of 214.91.

Despite this, Glenn was overtaken after the short program as other skaters outperformed her.

Levit, aged 18, struggled with a fall during her first jump, which cost her nine points. Though she regained her footing, it wasn’t quite enough to improve her chances.

This trip to the Olympics was all about enjoying the experience for her, and she seemed to embrace every moment in the village.

Levit had previously made a name for herself as a national champion at 15, secured silver at the 2024 World Championships, and recently won a bronze medal at nationals last month.

In the end, a technical slip in the short program—more detrimental than a fall—prevented Glenn from medaling. She had aimed for a strong finish, almost getting gold with a nail-biting performance.

Japan’s Momone Chiba was the first to knock Glenn from her temporary lead, as she was sitting in fourth place after the short program.