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From The Athletic: Alysa Liu came out of retirement in 2024, but didn’t return to figure skating for medals. But for personal fulfillment. A display of empowerment. Seemingly impervious to pressure, Liu was at her best when it mattered most. Her infectious energy turned all the way up, her meticulous edges on point. She seemed the least nervous of any person in the building. She posted her best score of the season in the free skate of her life on Thursday night at the 2026 Winter Olympics. https://trib.al/1goaxJQ

Alysa Liu broke Team USA's long Olympic medal drought in women's figure skating Thursday when she won gold in the singles competition Thursday in Milan.

Liu became the first U.S. woman since Sasha Cohen in 2006 to take home an individual figure skating medal at the Olympics. The win also marked the first women’s figure skating Olympic gold medal for the United States since Sarah Hughes in 2002.

Liu's free skate routine on Thursday pushed her from third place after her short program to gold. Japan's Kaori Sakamoto and Ami Nakai took home silver and bronze, respectively.

Seven years ago, at age 13, Liu won her first national championship. But after she finished in sixth place four years ago at the Winter Games in Beijing, she retired from figure skating. Two years later, she decided to stage a comeback.

Now, Liu will leave Milan with two gold medals overall. Earlier in the Olympics, she helped the U.S. win gold in the team figure skating event.