Alysa Liu, U.S. determine skater, wins Olympic gold : NPR

[ad_1] <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3301x2201+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe1%2F99%2F1eca82034e29bc565f165ba8a2a5%2Fgettyimages-2262538673.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3301x2201+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe1%2F99%2F1eca82034e29bc565f165ba8a2a5%2Fgettyimages-2262538673.jpg" class="img" alt="Team USA's Alysa Liu celebrates after winning gold in the women's event on Thursday." fetchpriority="high"/> Group USA's Alysa Liu celebrates after profitable gold within the ladies's occasion on Thursday. Jamie Squire/Getty Pictures conceal caption

toggle caption

Jamie Squire/Getty Pictures MILAN — Alysa Liu has gained Olympic determine skating gold, the primary U.S. girl to take action in over 20 years.

It is an ironic end result for the 20-year-old, who mentioned earlier this week that she wasn't motivated by a medal.

"I am OK if I do a fail program. I am completely OK if I do a terrific program. It doesn't matter what the end result is, it is nonetheless my story," Liu mentioned after ending Tuesday night time's brief program in third place.

Liu, 20, soared to new heights in Thursday's free skate, dazzling the gang with a fully joyful skate to Donna Summer season's "MacArthur Park Suite" in a shimmering gold gown.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/7460x4973+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F9d%2F38%2Fb02ddfad4cc2a5395005e0fd3c41%2Fgettyimages-2261971314.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/7460x4973+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F9d%2F38%2Fb02ddfad4cc2a5395005e0fd3c41%2Fgettyimages-2261971314.jpg" class="img" alt="Alysa Liu (C) celebrates next to silver medalist Kaori Sakamoto (L) and bronze medalist Ami Nakai (R), both of Japan." loading="lazy"/> Alysa Liu (C) celebrates subsequent to silver medalist Kaori Sakamoto (L) and bronze medalist Ami Nakai (R), each of Japan. Wang Zhao/AFP by way of Getty Pictures conceal caption

toggle caption

Wang Zhao/AFP by way of Getty Pictures She and her signature raccoon-striped ponytail soared, exuding a carefree confidence and getting the gang onto its ft. Her easygoing demeanor and look of real enjoyment have been her hallmarks since she returned to the game in 2024 — two years after retiring at age 16 instantly following the Beijing Olympics, the place she got here in sixth.

Liu's efficiency on Thursday shot her straight to the highest of the leaderboard with two skaters behind her, guaranteeing her spot on the rostrum.

She stayed there via the top of the night time. Japan's Kaori Sakamoto, the penultimate skater, ended up with a silver medal, whereas the final skater of the night time, her compatriot Ami Nakai, claimed bronze.

It was a literal passing of the torch: Sakamoto, who gained bronze in Beijing, is retiring after these Olympics; Nakai is simply 17 and in her debut senior season.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4255x2838+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd7%2F51%2F5418da854199b2cff9985ed61e96%2Fgettyimages-2261946896.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4255x2838+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd7%2F51%2F5418da854199b2cff9985ed61e96%2Fgettyimages-2261946896.jpg" class="img" alt="USA's Amber Glenn competes on Thursday. " loading="lazy"/> USA's Amber Glenn competes on Thursday. She completed fifth general. Wang Zhao/AFP by way of Getty Pictures conceal caption

toggle caption

Wang Zhao/AFP by way of Getty Pictures The Milano Ice Skating Area erupted in cheers as actuality sunk in. An exuberant Liu exchanged lengthy hugs along with her coaches and teammate Amber Glenn, who had a triumphant night time of her personal regardless of ending off the rostrum in fifth place.

It was a redemptive skate for Glenn, who got here into the night time in thirteenth place after one expensive mistake on the finish of her first routine Tuesday. The free skate, her second likelihood, went way more easily — she nailed one other triple axel and landed all of her jumps, regardless of placing a hand right down to regular herself at one level. Glenn, who later instructed NBC she had been considering of her six-year-old self, moved into first place and stayed there till the ultimate group of the night time.