Alysa Liu won gold in the women’s figure skating at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on Thursday, ending a 20-year Olympic medal drought for the U.S. in the event. Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto took silver, and her 17-year-old teammate Ami Nakai earned bronze.
Liu, 20, delivered a flawless free skate with a Donna Summer disco theme, thrilling the sold-out crowd. She scored 150.20 in the free skate, finishing with a total of 226.79. Her performance marked her second gold in Milan, following the U.S. team event victory.
After retiring at 16 post-Beijing 2022 due to burnout, Liu returned with full creative control over music, programs, and costumes. Her comeback included a world title in Boston last year, demonstrating her resilience and artistry.
Sakamoto, a three-time world champion, struggled with a jump combination and finished with 224.90. Nakai initially led in the free skate but mis-timed a combination, securing 219.16 for bronze.
Liu described her win as a celebration of connection and joy: “The most important part of my story is human connection. That’s what I will hold dear.”
In women’s hockey, the U.S. overcame Canada 2-1 in overtime to claim gold. Veteran Hilary Knight, in her fifth and final Olympics, scored the overtime-tying goal, while Megan Keller netted the winning goal. Goalie Aerin Frankel stopped 30 shots.
The Americans went 7-0 in the tournament, outscoring opponents 33-2. Canada’s Marie-Philip Poulin and veteran players like Jocelyne Larocque praised the U.S. team’s preparation and resolve.
This year’s final continued the historic U.S.-Canada rivalry, with the Americans extending their winning streak and solidifying their reputation as one of the most dominant women’s hockey teams in Olympic history.
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