Alysa Liu in Medal Contention After Strong Olympic Short Program at Milan-Cortina Games
MILAN, Italy — U.S. figure skating star Alysa Liu surged into third place after the women’s short program at the 2026 Winter Olympics, delivering a confident, technically strong performance that leaves her firmly in the hunt for an individual Olympic medal.
In a night that featured a mix of breakthrough routines and heartbreaking errors, Liu posted a score of 76.59 points, her new international personal best in the discipline, placing her behind Japan’s Ami Nakai (78.71) and three-time world champion Kaori Sakamoto (77.23).
The short program — held on Tuesday at the Milan Ice Skating Arena — showcased a high level of international competition, with Liu demonstrating a near-clean skate highlighted by a difficult triple Lutz–triple loop combination and expressive choreography that earned strong marks across technical and artistic components.
🥇 Podium Positions Taken — Liu Close Behind
Japan’s Nakai, only 17 and making her Olympic debut, took the lead on the strength of a powerful routine that included a clean triple Axel and precise spins, drawing praise from commentators for her composure under pressure. Sakamoto, a veteran of multiple world championships, followed closely.
Liu’s performance, coming after a two-year hiatus from the sport before a celebrated comeback, kept her within striking distance of the top spots — only a couple of points separated the American from gold contention heading into the free skate, scheduled for Thursday.
“It was a great performance and I’m really happy with how I skated,” Liu said afterward, speaking to reporters about her experience and connection with her routine.
🇺🇸 Mixed Fortunes for U.S. Teammates
While Liu delighted U.S. figure skating fans by staying in medal contention, her teammates encountered a more tumultuous evening. Isabeau Levito, in her Olympic debut, finished eighth with a score of 70.84, missing some levels on technical elements that would have elevated her standing.
Meanwhile, three-time U.S. champion Amber Glenn — who shone earlier in the event with a team event gold medal and a successful triple Axel — suffered a costly mistake when a planned triple loop was downgraded to a double, resulting in no points for that element and leaving her in 13th place. Glenn was visibly emotional after the performance.
🧠 Liu’s Rising Narrative: From Retirement to Olympic Medal Hope
Liu’s journey to this point underscores one of the most compelling storylines of the Games: the 20-year-old phenomenon originally retired at age 16 after competing at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, stepping away from competitive skating before returning in 2024 with a renewed focus and creative control over her programs.
Her resurgence culminated last year with a world championship title, the first U.S. woman to claim that honor in nearly two decades, and now places her squarely among the medal contenders here in Milan.
If Liu can sustain her momentum in the free skate, she could end the 20-year individual medal drought for American women in Olympic figure skating — a feat last achieved by Sasha Cohen in 2006.
