In the hour before Alysa Liu would become the first American woman in nearly a quarter of a century to win an individual Olympic figure skating gold medal, she skipped around the warmup area deep below the Milano Ice Skating Arena,

Alysa Liu skated with poise, grace and beauty Thursday in Milan, Italy, to capture the United States' first Olympic gold medal in women's figure skating in nearly a quarter century.

Alysa Liu of the United States reacts to her score after competing in the women's figure skating free program at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough) MILAN (AP) — Alysa Liu probably cared the least of all the women in figure skating at the Milan Cortina Olympics about winning the gold medal.

Alysa Liu made history at the 2026 Winter Olympics, becoming the first American woman in two decades to win an individual figure skating gold medal.

Alysa Liu won Olympic gold on Thursday -- an unexpected fairy-tale ending to an up-and-down week for the U.S. figure skating team.

Alysa Liu carries U.S. gold hopes as women’s figure skating heads into its final night at the Milan Cortina Games

Alysa Liu became the first American woman to win an individual figure skating medal at the Olympics in 20 years.

Alysa Liu won the first women's figure skating gold medal for the United States in 24 years at Winter Olympics in Milan on Thursday.