Alysa Liu lastly ends America’s 24-year look forward to a Winter Olympics determine skating gold medal as she wins nerve-shredding last
It’s virtually impossible to not smile while watching Alysa Liu. Her beaming grin is infectious and radiant – permeating throughout her skating.
Her comeback attempt speaks to the power of dreams and redemption. After doing away with the sport as a teenager, her return to the ice is a testament to the joy of youth. It frankly deserved a crowning moment.
She got one. Liu’s routine on Thursday evening in Milan was golden – making her the first American woman to win the Olympic skating event since Sarah Hughes in 2002.
Scored to Donna Summer’s classic ‘MacArthur Park Suite,’ the California native nailed every element of her free skate program.
It was joyful, exuberant, full of that kind of life that disappears when you get older. Her wide smile never left her face as she skated to her heart’s delight.
Her celebration reflected that. ‘That’s what I’m f***in’ talking about!’ a radiant Liu screamed into the cameras as she walked off the ice and into an embrace from her coaches.
American figure skater Alysa Liu has won the gold medal in the women’s singles event
Scored to Donna Summer’s ‘MacArthur Park Suite,’ Liu smashed her free skate with a 150.20
Liu put up the best score of the free skate to break a 24-year drought for American women
Still, there was potential to be knocked off the top of the podium. After Liu had finished, Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto stood as her biggest obstacle of the two skaters remaining.
But Sakamoto’s planned triple flip+triple loop combination didn’t materialize after an awkward landing on the first spin. Even though she added the loop in later, the judges docked her score for the missed execution.
Liu embraced her as tears rolled down Sakamoto’s face when she came off the ice. The Japanese skater’s score still managed to come in behind Liu, earning her a silver medal before her planned retirement.
It all came down to the final skater, 17-year-old Ami Nakai of Japan. The third element of her skate went awry when a planned triple lutz+triple toeloop turned into only a triple+double.
But Nakai finished with a sublime skate regardless. Corrections on her technical score put her ahead of Liu by just a quarter of a point – requiring the American to wait for the judges.
Nakai required a score of 148.09 to win the gold. She got a 140.45, earning her the bronze.
Liu hugs Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto, who finished with the silver medal for these Olympics
Liu now becomes the eighth – and latest – American Golden Girl in figure skating
Liu jumped out of her seat and went over to hug Nakai, who was excited to relish in Olympic glory for the first time.
Then, off she ran to teammate Amber Glenn – who redeemed herself from a heartbreaking short program to score the third-best free skate of the day.
Glenn, who finished fifth in the women’s singles program, hugged Liu and shared how proud she was.
Seven women came before her: Tenley Albright, Carol Heiss, Peggy Fleming, Dorothy Hamill, Kristi Yamaguchi, Tara Lipinski and Hughes.
Add Liu to the list as America’s newest golden girl.
