Alysa Liu skated around the ice in sheer disbelief, her golden dress glistening under the lights at TD Garden. The roaring applause from a sellout crowd reminded her of the reasons she returned to figure skating after nearly two years away from the sport.
When her score was announced, the 19-year-old from Clovis, California, had etched her name in history.
Liu became the first American woman to win a world figure skating championship in nearly 20 years, defeating three-time defending champion Kaori Sakamoto with an outstanding free skate on Friday night. Her performance, set to a version of “MacArthur Park” by Boston native Donna Summer, earned a standing ovation and secured a final score of 222.97 points.
“This means so much to me after everything I’ve been through,” Liu said. “My last skating experience, my time away, and this comeback—I’m just really happy. I’m mostly glad I was able to deliver two of my best performances.”
Liu’s coaches, Phillip DiGuglielmo and Massimo Scali, embraced her in the kiss-and-cry area of the arena, celebrating the moment together. A short while later, Sakamoto approached from her spot in the leader’s chair, wrapping Liu in a tight hug. It felt as though Japan’s champion was symbolically passing the torch to Liu, marking her as the first U.S. woman to claim a world title since Kimmie Meissner stood on the podium in 2006.
“What the hell?” Liu exclaimed in shock. “I don’t know. I don’t know how to process this.”
Sakamoto finished with 217.98 points, securing a silver medal to add to her three previous world titles. Her Japanese teammate, Mone Chiba, took third place with 215.24 points, while Americans Isabeau Levito and Amber Glenn claimed three of the top five spots.
“We’re all so strong,” Levito said. “We’re all fighters with our own strengths, and we’re different in many ways, but we’re incredibly supportive of each other. I’m just so proud to call these my fellow Team USA skaters.”
Liu was once seen as the future of the sport, becoming the youngest-ever U.S. champion at just 13 in 2019 and defending her title the following year. She achieved a childhood dream by qualifying for the Olympics, finishing sixth at the 2022 Beijing Games, and earned a bronze medal at the world championships that same year.
Eventually, Liu stepped away from the sport. Skating had shifted from a source of joy to feeling more like a job, and she wanted to experience life as a regular college student. It wasn’t until a ski trip—where she felt the adrenaline of competition in a completely different setting and with much lower stakes—that she started considering a comeback.
Early last year, she confirmed her return with a vague social media post. The journey back wasn’t smooth, especially in a sport known for its unpredictability, but Liu made significant progress with a second-place finish behind Amber Glenn at the U.S. Championships.
She took the final step up on the podium Friday night.
“I didn’t expect this at all,” Liu said. “I didn’t have any expectations coming in. I’ve stopped setting expectations for competitions. It’s more about what I can deliver performance-wise, and I really met my own standards.”
Liu left Sakamoto, the former champion, feeling a mix of awe and admiration.
“She took a break and now she’s back as the world champion,” Sakamoto said. “I wouldn’t say she’s changed. Her cheerfulness, kindness, and the joy she brings with her have always been part of who she is, and that’s what helped her reach the top of the podium.”
Earlier in the evening, American ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates built a strong lead in their quest for a third consecutive title, posting a season-best 90.18 points for their rhythm dance. They edged out Canadian rivals Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier, who earned 86.44 points for their performance set to music by The Beach Boys.
Gilles and Poirier held the lead briefly before Chock and Bates completed their “tour of the decades” routine, which earned them an enthusiastic ovation from the crowd at TD Garden.
This season, the International Skating Union chose the theme of social dances and styles from the 1950s, 60s, and 70s. While some skaters focused on a single style like the Watusi, Madison, or disco, Chock and Bates embraced the entire era in their lively performance.
“It was probably the most fun I’ve had on competitive ice during a performance—maybe ever,” Chock said. “It was truly a joy to perform in front of a home crowd and share that excitement with Evan. It was just the best.”
Now, Chock and Bates are aiming to complete the first three-peat in ice dance since Russia’s Oksana Grishuk and Evgeni Platov in the 1990s.
“That’s a tough lead to overcome,” Poirier admitted, “but we also know that the sport can be really unpredictable.”
