American figure skating stars Alysa Liu and Amber Glenn have already made their mark at the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics, helping Team USA secure the gold medal in the team event with impressive performances. Liu earned silver in the women’s short program (74.90 points) while Glenn, who marked her Olympic debut, placed third in the women’s free skate, contributing strongly to their nation’s gold medal win.
Their Olympic journey began at the 2026 U.S. Championships, where Glenn claimed the national crown, and Liu followed closely behind, both earning their coveted spots on Team USA.
Alysa Liu On Her Medal Mishap
Liu is competing in her second Olympics – she made her Olympic debut at 16 at the Beijing 2022 Games, where she finished 7th in the women’s short program and 6th in the women’s free skate, solid finishes given her age. Following this, she took a short break from the sport, returning to elite skating around 2024.
After celebrating their gold, Liu shared a surprising twist: her original medal was damaged, so she received a fresh replacement to mark her victory.
“I was just jumping up and down as one does to celebrate, and it just dropped, literally it fell off the ribbon. It got really scratched up, pretty dented. And I actually liked it when it was off the ribbon,” Liu said.
“But that’s not allowed, that would be a problem for today. I couldn’t keep that one. I know, I was like, ‘Can’t you just fix this one? I’m attached,’ but it’s okay, I’m detached, just like it was,” she said.
Glenn added to her statement, saying that it’s “another one of those side quests” that happens to Liu.
Next up, Liu and Glenn will take the ice again in the women’s singles short program on February 17 in Milan, joined by fellow American contender Isabeau Levito.
Liu Compares Milan To Beijing Olympics
With a golden season behind her, including World Championship and Grand Prix Final victories, Liu now has her sights set on adding to her Olympic medal collection in Milan.
Reflecting on her journey, Liu described how competing in Milan feels worlds apart from her experience in Beijing, where she took a sabbatical from the sport.
“I am very happy to be here compared to last time, which was like, ‘Let’s just get it over,’” she said. “This time feels so completely different. I know who I am as a person now.”
During her break from skating, Liu embraced family time, earned her driver’s license, and began studying psychology at UCLA, adding new chapters to her story beyond the rink.
