{"id":8853,"date":"2026-02-21T11:59:24","date_gmt":"2026-02-21T11:59:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/grow24.us\/?p=8853"},"modified":"2026-02-21T11:59:24","modified_gmt":"2026-02-21T11:59:24","slug":"queen-of-macarthur-park-alysa-liu-leaves-milan-spellbound-with-soul-searing-olympic-gold-as-warrior-ends-24-year-american-drought-in","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/grow24.us\/?p=8853","title":{"rendered":"QUEEN OF MACARTHUR PARK! Alysa Liu leaves Milan \u2018spellbound\u2019 with \u2018soul-searing\u2019 Olympic gold \u2013 as \u2018Warrior\u2019 ends 24-year American drought in \u2018miraculous\u2019 comeback for the ages"},"content":{"rendered":"

Alysa Liu\u2019s comeback is golden.<\/p>\n

Less than two years after coming out of retirement, Liu\u00a0captured America\u2019s first medal in women\u2019s figure skating in 20 years\u00a0\u2014 and it is colored gold for the first time since 2002.<\/p>\n

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She is the eighth American to win gold in women\u2019s figure skating.<\/p>\n

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\"Alysa
3 Alysa Liu of Team United States competes in Women\u2019s Single Skating \u2013 Free Skating on Day 13 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games.Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>
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With a flawless, high-energy free-skate performance to Donna Summer\u2019s \u201cMacArthur Park Suite,\u201d Liu laughed and smiled through the face of pressure Thursday, and rose from third place after the short program to the top of the podium. She jumped in front of the Japanese duo of Kaori Sakamoto and Ami Nakai.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWhat I was feeling,\u201d Liu said, \u201cwas happy and confident.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nakai, 17, was the leader after the short program. In her chance to wrap up gold, she missed a triple-triple combination but landed a triple axel and still fell to bronze.<\/p>\n

Sakamoto won the silver \u2014 less than two points off the lead.<\/p>\n

Liu, 20, and American teammate Amber Glenn were side-by-side high-fiving and clasping hands as they awaited Nakai\u2019s score. It turned out not to be that close, with Liu\u2019s 226.79 combination score setting the pace.<\/p>\n

Nakai graciously hugged Liu in a moment that transcended fiery competition. Backstage, Liu applied lipstick and fluffed her hair as reality sank in.<\/p>\n

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