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Figure skater Alysa Liu, the reigning 2025 world champion, is clearly the one to beat as the women's singles competition begins Tuesday, Feb. 17 at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.
Liu, 20, became the youngest U.S. women’s figure skating champion at age 13. She spent a year studying at UCLA before taking a two-year hiatus from skating that ended in 2024.
“It's definitely an art form. I view it very much as that," she tells USA TODAY Sports. "But it satisfies me on a technical side, like spins and jumps and running the program itself, those are really hard. Those are difficult. And I like being an athlete."
If she can perform her artistry in the short and long programs, Liu could add her name to the list of Olympic champion women's figure skaters from the United States.
It's been 22 years since an American woman was crowned champion in Olympic figure skating competition.
Sarah Hughes won the gold in Salt Lake City in 2002, with U.S. teammate Michelle Kwan earning the bronze. Since then, only Sasha Cohen (silver in 2006) has reached the medal stand as an American.
Here's the full list of Olympic champions in women's figure skating from the United States:
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: American women's figure skating gold medalists: Is Alysa Liu next?
Continue reading...
Liu, 20, became the youngest U.S. women’s figure skating champion at age 13. She spent a year studying at UCLA before taking a two-year hiatus from skating that ended in 2024.
“It's definitely an art form. I view it very much as that," she tells USA TODAY Sports. "But it satisfies me on a technical side, like spins and jumps and running the program itself, those are really hard. Those are difficult. And I like being an athlete."
If she can perform her artistry in the short and long programs, Liu could add her name to the list of Olympic champion women's figure skaters from the United States.
Who's last American to win gold in women's Olympic figure skating?
It's been 22 years since an American woman was crowned champion in Olympic figure skating competition.
Sarah Hughes won the gold in Salt Lake City in 2002, with U.S. teammate Michelle Kwan earning the bronze. Since then, only Sasha Cohen (silver in 2006) has reached the medal stand as an American.
American women to win Olympic figure skating gold
Here's the full list of Olympic champions in women's figure skating from the United States:
- 2002 (Salt Lake City): Sarah Hughes
- 1998 (Nagano): Tara Lipinski
- 1992 (Albertville): Kristi Yamaguchi
- 1976 (Innsbruck): Dorothy Hamill
- 1968 (Grenoble): Peggy Fleming
- 1960 (Squaw Valley): Carol Heiss
- 1956 (Cortina d'Ampezzo): Tenley Albright
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: American women's figure skating gold medalists: Is Alysa Liu next?
Continue reading...
