Alisa Liu Wins Gold at Milan-Cortina Games
American figure skater Alisa Liu celebrated a fantastic performance during her free skate on Thursday night, taking home the gold medal at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Games. It’s hard to describe how thrilled she must feel, especially since she ended a 24-year drought for American women in this event.
After her impressive routine, Liu talked about the narrative she aimed to convey through her skating. “What I want to share about myself is my story, my art, and my creative process,” she shared. “I think even a less-than-perfect story is still a story, and there’s beauty in that.”
With a confident mindset, Liu felt free to express herself on the ice without the weight of potential failure hanging over her. She aimed to connect with the audience, specifically those in the upper sections of the arena. “I wanted to show off my new dress that I absolutely love,” she mentioned, glancing at her gold outfit, which certainly suited the moment. “Between transitions, I made sure to smile and engage with the audience. That was important to me.”
After finishing her routine, Liu couldn’t contain her happiness and celebrated with her team, joyfully exclaiming, “That’s what I’m talking about!” Her scores reflected her excellence: she earned 150.20 points in the free skate, complemented by 76.59 points in the short program, bringing her total to 226.79 points—the highest she had achieved all season.
Even with her remarkable performance, Liu had to wait and see how competitors from Japan, like Kaori Sakamoto and Ami Nakai, would fare before the final standings were determined. Ultimately, she emerged victorious, making history as the first American woman to earn a medal in singles figure skating since Sasha Cohen’s win in the 2006 Torino Games, and also the last to claim gold for the U.S. back in 2002 was Sarah Hughes.
Before this event, Liu also contributed to the USA team’s gold medal in the team competition, quickly endearing herself to many Americans. Looking forward, she has her sights set on the Olympic Gala, marking a joyful conclusion to her competition in Milan.
