For the first time since the 2002 Winter Olympics, an American woman stands atop the figure skating world.

Alysa Liu completed her Hollywood ending, taking gold on a dramatic night ahead of the Japanese pair of Kaori Sakamoto and Ami Nakai. After stepping away from the sport for nearly three years, Liu returned and delivered on the biggest stage in figure skating.

Entering the free skate, Nakai led the way, followed by teammates Sakamoto in second and Mone Chiba in fourth. Liu finished the short program in fourth, while her teammates Isabeau Levito and Amber Glenn were down in 8th and 13th, respectively. But all eyes were on Russia’s Adeliya Petrosian, competing under the AIN banner, and the potential in her free skate. Petrosian finished fifth in the short program, but with several quads planned, Petrosian had the chance to make up a ton of ground in the free skate.

Glenn was the first of the major contenders to hit the ice, closing out the second group on Thursday night after her missed triple toe loop in the short program dropped her down to 13th place. She led her program again with a triple Axel, and much like in the short program, Glenn nailed the most difficult jump in her free skate. She then delivered on a triple flip/triple toe loop combination, getting her free skate off to an impressive start.

She followed that with a triple lutz/double toe loop combination, followed by a triple Salchow, and then another triple loop, double Axel, double Axel combination. At the midway point of her performance, it was apparent that Glenn was on her game tonight. While she did touch her hand to the ice on her final jump, a triple toe loop, it was the redemption performance Glenn — and the arena — were looking for.

It was also the best free skate of her season, coming in at 147.52, good for a total score of 214.91 and first place overall with 12 skaters remaining.

Glenn remained at the top of the standings when the final group of skaters took to the ice, a group which included Petrosian, Liu, and the trio from Japan. Petrosian was the first of those skaters to take to the ice, with the toughest planned free skate planned, which included a pair of quads.

She fell on the first quad attempt.

Petrosian finished with a technical score of 71.69, which was behind the technical score of 78.87 posted by Glenn earlier in the night. After the judges weighed in, Petrosian’s free skate of 141.64 brought her total score to 214.53, behind Glenn and keeping the American skater atop the results list for yet another moment.

Mone Chiba was next, the first of the three Japanese skaters left to take to the ice on this night in Milan. After an opening combination, she hit both a triple toe loop and a triple Salchow, two elements she has struggled with this season. Her closing step and choreographic sequence both brought high marks, and she finished with a technical score close to the mark posted by Glenn.

When the judges had their say, Chiba’s free skate of 143.88 led to a total score of 217.88, putting her into first place and dropping Glenn down into second.

Then it was time for Liu, who was looking for a Hollywood ending of her own, given her career path. Taking the ice to ”MacArthur Park” by Donna Summer, Liu landed a crisp triple flip to open her program, followed by a strong triple Lutz/triple toe loop combination. She followed that with what looked to be a clean triple Salchow, a strong step sequence, and a lovely triple toe loop.

“Two more jumps between her and an Olympic podium,” said Johnny Weir in the NBC commentary booth.

Liu finished with a provisional technical score of 75.60, which was ahead of the mark posted by Chiba. The relief on her face was evidence of the performance, as Liu knew that she had done everything she could to secure a medal.

Almost three years away from world competition, and Liu was back and guaranteed an Olympic medal. Her free skate score of 150.20 rocketed her into the lead with a total score of 226.79, and with just two skaters left, she was guaranteed at least a bronze medal.

And Team USA was guaranteed their first individual medal in women’s figure skating since Sasha Cohen took silver at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin.

Here is a portion of Liu’s performance:

Then it was back to Japan, as the veteran Sakamoto took to the ice for the final time as an individual Olympic athlete. Sakamoto skated a very clean performance, including adding a jump sequence late in the free skate that she missed earlier in the routine. She closed with a triple loop and a beautiful combination spin sequence, a strong performance of her own.

But was it enough to take the lead from Liu?

She looked uncertain as she left the ice, and the missed combination from earlier in her free skate likely weighed on her mind. “Had she done that triple flip/triple toe, it would be a different story,” highlighted Weir in the commentary box.

Sakamoto shared a hug with Liu as she waited for her score, and when that came in, her free skate score of 147.67was goo for a total score of 224.90, good for second.

Liu remained the leader with just one skater left, the 17-year-old Nakai from Japan. But the Japanese skater took to the ice ready to take on a tougher technical program than Liu, and a planned triple Axel, which would give her a big five-point bonus if she could land the toughest jump in the sport.

“If she skates this free skate clean, she will probably become the Olympic champion,” said Tara Lipinski.

Nakai nailed that triple Axel to open her program, and the fight for gold was on.

Nakai followed that with a stunning triple loop/double toe loop, but then came a stumble, as she missed on a second jumping combination, under-rotating on the second jump in that pass. She rebounded with a strong triple Salchow, ahead of a planned triple Lutz/double Axel/double Axel combination, which was clean as well on first viewing.

Two more big jumps followed, a triple flip and a triple loop, both of which were crisp from the 17-year-old. Her flowing spin sequences closed out her free skate, and provisionally her technical score was on par with Liu’s, but several of her jumps were under review.

Would her free skate be enough for gold?

It was going to be close.

Nakai’s free skate score came in at 140.45, which was good for 219.16.

Alysa Liu had completed her comeback to take gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

For the first time since Sarah Hughes in 2002 and the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, an American had won gold in women’s figure skating. Sakamoto took silver, with Nakai taking bronze:

And after her tough short program, Glenn rebounded to finish fifth in a redemption moment of her own.