Alysa Liu's Golden Comeback Triumphs Over Russian Controversy at Milano Olympics
The 20-year-old American figure skater Alysa Liu capped a glorious comeback to the sport with a free-spirited performance to win Olympic gold on Thursday, emphasising the importance of approaching skating on her own terms. In a stunning display at the Milano Ice Skating Arena, Liu set a season's best of 150.20 points, nearly four points clear of her previous best, to secure the top podium spot.
A Dazzling Performance Overshadows Teen Expectations
On a day many expected to be dominated by one teenager, it was a different former teen star with a very different story who took centre stage. Self-styled 'alt girl' Alysa Liu—a charismatic skater who retired after burning out before rediscovering her love of skating—set the stadium alight with her distinctive loose, free-flowing style and glitzy Donna Summer routine.
Team gold medallist Ilia Malinin was among those cheering on his fellow world champion, who jumped for joy and beamed as she left the ice. Liu's victory marked a personal triumph, having no triple axel or quad jump in her routine, but her sheer vivacity and joy of skating shone through in a performance as glittering as her sparkling gold dress.
Silver and Bronze for Japanese Skaters
Three-time world champion Kaori Sakamoto of Japan missed a major combination in her powerful and elegant routine to an Edith Piaf medley, costing her significant points. The 25-year-old, competing in her final Olympics before retirement, waved to the crowd but was in tears as she entered the kiss and cry area, knowing it wasn't enough for gold. Sakamoto finished just shy of two points behind Liu to take silver.
Meanwhile, 17-year-old compatriot Ami Nakai, competing in her first Olympic Games, produced a peerless short programme and nearly matched that by finishing third overall. The teenager beamed as she took to the ice, and the smile rarely left her face as she floated through a lyrical and beautifully executed programme—barring one underrotated jump—to take bronze. She looked on the verge of tears of joy as Liu hugged her when her final score came in.
Russian Teenager's Controversial Campaign Falls Short
In a far cry from the world of Russian teenager Adeliia Petrosian, who had been expected to dominate the build-up to these Olympic Games, the 18-year-old finished well down in sixth overall. Petrosian's very presence struck at the heart of a problem which has once again taken centre stage at the Olympics, with her coach Eteri Tutberidze's controversial influence looming large.
Tutberidze, who achieved notoriety for publicly berating 15-year-old Kamila Valieva after falls in Beijing four years ago, was found not guilty by Wada and avoided any sanction over the Valieva doping affair. She was granted accreditation for these Olympics as a coach of Georgian skater Nika Egadze, but has been spotted at Petrosian's practice sessions and has been loud about skirting regulations.
Petrosian's free skate was an improvement on a somewhat spiky short programme, aside from a fall on an under-rotated quad loop—the only quad any skater attempted in the competition. Her routines bore Tutberidze's influence, from non-traditional jumping techniques to high-kicks and ragged transitions between sequences.
A Victory for Healthier Coaching Methods
For reasons both political and psychological, Petrosian's failure to make the podium on Thursday night was seen as a win for less damaging methods of coaching and for wider sport. Liu's comeback story stands in stark contrast: she retired at 16 after falling out of love with the sport and the restrictive nature of her training, but returned years later having taken time to be a regular teenager.
By the time she came back to the ice, Liu had reclaimed her agency and taken control of her own skating, from costumes to approach. "I'm older and I've learned so many lessons. I'm so much better at protecting my peace and knowing why I do the things I do," she said last autumn. As Liu celebrated in Milan, it was hard to argue that this wasn't a victory for skating as it should be.
US national champion Amber Glenn made up for a heavily penalised mistake in her short programme with an excellent free programme, finishing just off the podium in fifth. Glenn stood up and applauded for several competitors, but only smiled and blinked knowingly at the camera after Petrosian's skate, highlighting the underlying tensions.
