Alysa Liu hadn’t even checked her phone. She didn’t know who had called, who had texted or who had screamed at their television when her gold-medal score flashed onto the screen. But she knew exactly who she wanted to call first.
“My siblings,” she said, laughing. “They have no idea [what] is happening.”
No one really did. Liu’s win on Friday night at the world figure skating championships before a completely sold-out TD Garden crowd was historic: the first by an American woman in 19 years. She scored international personal bests in both the short program and free skate, finishing with 222.97 points over both segments to dethrone Kaori Sakamoto, the popular and well-liked three-time defending world champion from Japan. Not only is Liu back nearly three years after abruptly disappearing from the sport. She’s better than ever.
Kimmie Meissner’s 2006 world title came in the Olympic afterglow, only weeks after the Torino Games, that once-every-four-years scheduling quirk when figure skating’s world championships barely move the needle. Liu’s arrives with the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics just 10 months away – transforming her almost overnight from feel-good comeback story to default medal favorite and one of the faces of the US Winter Olympic team.
Soon, skating for fun turned into skating with purpose. She entered a small competition in Budapest – and won. Then Zagreb – and won again. She came thisclose to winning nationals, getting pipped by Amber Glenn in one of the closest contests ever at the US championships. And in Boston, she drilled seven clean triples, skated to Donna Summer in a gold-sequined dress, and cartwheeled onto the ice before Wednesday afternoon’s short program … and Friday night’s medal ceremony.
Liu became the 14th American woman to win the sport’s biggest competition outside the Olympics, helping Team USA secure three quota spots for the 2026 Games. With Isabeau Levito and Glenn finishing fourth and fifth, respectively, it was the strongest collective US women’s showing at a world championships since 2001. “Go Team USA. That’s all I can say,” Liu said. “I’m so proud of both Isabeau and Amber for putting up such great performances and such great fight.”
Sakamoto, who stood on the podium with Liu at worlds in 2022, praised her growth. “She went away and now she’s back – and the world champion,” the 24-year-old from Kobe said through a translator. “Her cheerfulness and kindness and the way she’s always happy brought her to the top step of the podium.”
Liu isn’t thinking too far ahead, even if the rest of the sport is. She’s no longer just a comeback story. She’s a contender. “I have never regretted anything in my life – every decision that I made, I am glad that I did,” Liu said. “It all brought me to this moment.”
A moment she met with wide eyes, a gold medal and one perfectly chaotic exclamation that captured the entire journey: What the hell?
