For more than seven decades, women from the United States have shaped Olympic figure skating. Each champion arrived in a different era. Each one faced a different challenge. Some battled illness. Others carried the weight of tragedy or tough rivalry.

With her extraordinary style and carefree attitude, gold medal winning Alysa Liu has brought a breath of fresh air to the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.

Earlier this week, Liu came in first in women’s free skate, earning the U.S. its first gold in the category in 24 years.