Alysa Liu Closes Milano Cortina 2026 In Style After Historic Olympic Gold

Alysa Liu brought the figure skating portion of the Milano Cortina Games to a memorable close during the Exhibition Gala, delivering a performance that was equal parts elegance and confidence — capped off by yet another show-stopping dress that immediately caught the audience’s attention and underscored her star power on Olympic ice.

The 20-year-old entered Olympic history after producing the skate of her life in a striking gold dress, completing a remarkable comeback after sitting third following the short program. Her free skate was fearless and controlled, blending technical precision with emotional clarity, and it ultimately carried her all the way to the top of the podium.

With that victory, Liu became the first American woman to win Olympic gold in figure skating since Sarah Hughes achieved the feat at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games, ending a drought that had lasted nearly a quarter of a century and restoring the United States to the top of the women’s podium.

The aftermath was just as emotional as the performance itself. Overwhelmed by the moment, Liu was visibly flooded with emotion — even letting slip an unfiltered expletive — while her father, Arthur, was seen reacting wildly in the stands, mirroring the disbelief and joy felt by fans watching around the world.

Beyond the celebration, Liu also made headlines for her composure and sportsmanship in the moments that followed, earning praise not only for her skating but for the grace she showed once the pressure finally lifted.

The days surrounding her victory moved quickly, turning into a whirlwind of appearances and obligations. The Oakland, California native appeared visibly exhausted while waiting to be a guest on The Today Show, a reminder of just how intense and life-altering an Olympic triumph can be.

Liu dazzles in Exhibition Gala

Despite the exhaustion, Liu returned to the ice one final time for the Exhibition Gala. While the skate carried no competitive stakes, it offered her a rare chance to perform without pressure — a moment to enjoy the ice freely and celebrate what it truly means to skate as an Olympic gold medalist.

She delivered on that opportunity not only through her skating, but through her look as well, gliding across the rink in a dress that gave her the appearance of a princess — confident, radiant, and completely at ease in the spotlight she had earned.

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Liu’s journey to this moment has been anything but ordinary. She became the youngest U.S. national champion at just 13 years old in 2019, retired shortly after competing at the 2022 Beijing Olympics at 16, and then made a surprising return to competition in March 2024. Now, she leaves Milano Cortina as an Olympic individual champion and a silver medalist in the team event.

She will be just 24 years old when the Olympic Games move to France in 2030, leaving the door wide open for yet another chapter in what has already become one of the most compelling careers in modern figure skating.

For now, though, Liu continues to soak in every moment of the Milano Cortina Games, fully aware that this rare blend of freedom, triumph, and joy is something few athletes ever get to experience.