Alysa Liu's gold in women's figure skating was a joyful pursuit
The Boston Globe • • sports
Key Points:
- U.S. figure skater Alexandra Liu ended a 20-year gold medal drought for American women by winning Olympic gold, the first since Sarah Hughes in 2002 and the longest since Tenley Albright’s 1956 victory.
- After finishing sixth at the 2018 Beijing Olympics, Liu retired due to burnout but returned to skating on her own terms, balancing training with personal interests and choosing her own programs and music.
- Liu became world champion in 2022 and entered the Milan Olympics with no expectations, ultimately delivering a near-flawless free skate that secured her the gold despite strong competition from Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto and Ami Nakai.
- Her victory is celebrated as a testament to mental
