2026 winter olympics women single skating free skating: Alysa Liu wins gold in Milan, first American champion since 2002 | International Sports News
The gold medal came down to the final scores, and when the numbers flashed on the screen, Alysa Liu stood alone at the top. On Thursday night in Milan, the 20 year old skater scored 226.79 points to win the women’s singles title at the 2026 Winter Olympics. With that, she became the first American woman to win Olympic gold in figure skating since Sarah Hughes in 2002. Alysa Liu entered the free skate in third place after the short program. She skated to “MacArthur Park” by Donna Summer and looked calm from start to finish. When her score appeared, she jumped up from the kiss and cry area, made a heart with her hands, and said, “I love y’all!” to the crowd. Two skaters were still to go, but her total held. Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto finished second, just 1.89 points behind Liu. Seventeen year old Ami Nakai took bronze after a small mistake in her routine. This is the first Olympic medal for an American woman in singles since Sasha Cohen won silver in 2006. It is also the first gold in 24 years.
Alysa Liu leads Blade Angels as Amber Glenn and Isabeau Levito fight through highs and lows in Milan free skate
Alysa Liu’s win feels even bigger when you look at her journey. She stepped away from skating after the 2022 Beijing Olympics. She wanted a normal life. She went to college, spent time with friends, and even traveled to Mount Everest Base Camp. For a while, skating was not part of her plan.But she came back two years ago. Last year, she won the World Championships, showing she was ready again. In Milan, she proved it on the biggest stage.Liu is part of a close group with Amber Glenn and Isabeau Levito. Fans call them the “Blade Angels.” NBC often highlighted the trio during the Games. Some believed they could sweep the podium. That did not happen, but they still made a mark.Amber Glenn started the free skate in 13th place after a rough short program. She fought back and finished fifth, missing a medal by 4.25 points. Isabeau Levito had a fall in her routine and placed 12th with a score of 202.80.Afterward, Levito said, “I do my best when I think less when it comes to skating. The majority of it is mental. I kind of just went on autopilot because in training I just go, go, go a lot of repetitions. I do my best when I’m thinking less.”Still, the night belonged to Liu. At U.S. Nationals last month, she scored 147.80 in her free skate. In Milan, she went higher with 150.20. That strong skate sealed her place in history and brought American women back to the top of Olympic figure skating.
