BOSTON — In a remarkable achievement for U.S. figure skating, Alysa Liu has become the first American woman in 19 years to win a world title in women's singles figure skating. This victory marks a significant comeback for Liu, who, at just 19 years old, recently returned to competitive skating after a two-year retirement. She secured her win with a total score of 222.97 points, gaining the highest scores in both the short program and free skate segments of the competition.
Liu's impressive performance allowed her to outperform Japan's Kaori Sakamoto, a three-time world champion, by a margin of 4.99 points. The bronze medal was awarded to another Japanese skater, Mone Chiba. Reflecting on her incredible journey, Liu shared her astonishment with NBC Sports, stating, “I’m not going to lie, this is an insane story. I don’t know how I came back to be world champion.”
This victory is particularly significant as Liu is the first U.S. women’s singles skater to win a world title since Kimmie Meissner in 2006. The 2023 championships showcased a strong performance from the American contingent, with Isabeau Levito finishing in fourth place and Amber Glenn taking fifth. This marks the first time since 2001 that three U.S. women have placed in the top five at a world championship, echoing the achievements of skating legends like Michelle Kwan, Sarah Hughes, and Angela Nikodinov.
Alysa Liu's journey back to the ice is one of resilience and rediscovery. After becoming the youngest U.S. champion at age 13 in 2019 and winning a world bronze medal in 2022, Liu chose to step away from the sport at 16, feeling overwhelmed and disconnected, as it had begun to feel like a job. However, this season marked her return, which she initiated by pulling her skates out of a closet after an adventure trekking in the Himalayas. Liu found renewed joy in skating, which has been integral to her success.
Although Liu did not include a triple Axel or quadruple jump in her winning routine, her coach, Phillip DiGuglielmo, confirmed her capability to execute the triple Axel. During her free skate, Liu landed an impressive seven triple jumps, and all 12 of her technical elements received positive grades of execution. Her free skate score of 148.39 was a remarkable improvement of 16.93 points from her previous best this season.
The U.S. women's team shone brightly at the championships. Isabeau Levito, the 2024 World silver medalist, faced challenges after being sidelined by a foot injury from October to January. Despite a fall during her free skate, she rallied to deliver a commendable performance. Amber Glenn, who entered the competition as the top skater of the season with victories in all five of her prior events, improved from ninth place after the short program to finish fifth overall. Glenn was notably the only woman to attempt a triple Axel in the free skate segment, despite not landing it cleanly.
The 2023 World Figure Skating Championships will conclude on Saturday, featuring the free dance event scheduled from 1:30-5 p.m. ET on Peacock and from 3-5 p.m. on USA Network, followed by the men’s free skate from 6-10 p.m. on Peacock and 8-10 p.m. on NBC and Peacock. Fans eagerly await the final performances as the championships come to a thrilling close.
Stay tuned for more updates and results from the 2025 World Figure Skating Championships, as the world of figure skating continues to captivate audiences with its blend of artistry and athleticism.
