Alysa Liu dazzle's to first U.S. women's figure skating gold in 24 years

Gold medalist Alysa Liu of the United States poses with her medal during the medal ceremony after the Women's Single Skating Free Skating Final at the Milano Figure Skating Arena in Milan, Italy, on Thursday, February 19, 2026. Kaori Sakamoto of Japan won silver and Ami Nakai of Japan won bronze. Photo by Richard Ellis/UPI

Feb. 19 (UPI) -- Alysa Liu skated with poise, grace and beauty Thursday in Milan, Italy, to capture the United States' first Olympic gold medal in women's figure skating in nearly a quarter century.

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In a gold sequined dress, the 20-year-old reigning world champion was daring as she dazzled and danced through her program set to Donna Summer's disco classic MacArthur Park, scoring 150.20 points to finish first in the free skate.

Though strong, it wasn't not the field's most technical planned dance of Thursday's performances. But Liu's routine was brimming with energy, her execution was flawless and she was dynamic, earning a season best 150.20 points from the free skate on Thursday that was more than a point higher than the runner-up, Kaori Sakamoto of Japan.

Combined with her 76.59 points from the short program, Liu scored 226.79 points, nearly two points higher than silver medalist Sakamoto.

"I'm so honored to have this and be alongside the people who have won it in the past," Liu said after the event. "They're incredible. It's crazy that I have the same thing they do now."

Bronze medalist Ami Nakai of Japan embraces gold medalist Alysa Liu of the United States before the medal ceremony during the Women's Single Skating Free Skating Final at the Milano Figure Skating Arena in Milan, Italy, on Thursday, February 19, 2026. Kaori Sakamoto of Japan won silver. Photo by Richard Ellis/UPI

Liu is the first American woman to win the women's singles figure skating Olympic gold since Sarah Hughes at Salt Lake City in 2002.

"I'm so happy with the way I skated today," she continued. "The crowd was incredible, and the skate went exactly how I wanted it to."

(L-R) Silver medalist Kaori Sakamoto of Japan, gold medalist Alysa Liu of the United States and bronze medalist Ami Nakai of Japan pose with their medals during the medal ceremony after the Women's Single Skating Free Skating Final at the Milano Figure Skating Arena in Milan, Italy, on Thursday, February 19, 2026. Photo by Richard Ellis/UPI

The impressively consistent Sakamoto scored 147.67 points for her performance to La vie en rose and Non je ne regrette rein to finish second on Thursday. Combined with her second-place 77.23 points in the short program, her 147.67 points netted her the silver medal.

Ami Nakai, the 17-year-old Japanese skater, came into Thursday sitting first in the competition after scoring a 78.71 in the short program. But her restrained free skate scored 140.45 points, which was ninth among the 24 skaters.

Silver medalist Kaori Sakamoto of Japan and bronze medalist Ami Nakai of Japan smile during the medal ceremony after the Women's Single Skating Free Skating Final at the Milano Figure Skating Arena in Milan, Italy, on Thursday, February 19, 2026. Photo by Richard Ellis/UPI

However, on the strength of her short program, Nakai's combined 219.16 points was good enough for bronze.

The gold was Liu's second of Milan, having earlier finished first in the team event.

Alysa Liu of the United States reacts after skating during the Women's Single Skating Free Skating Final at the Milano Figure Skating Arena in Milan, Italy, on Thursday, February 19, 2026. Liu scored a 150.20, making her total score 226.79. Photo by Richard Ellis/UPI

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