The women’s figure skating free skate at the Winter Olympics was full of emotion, stunning performances and U.S. history made.
Team USA was aiming for its first women’s figure skating medal in 20 years and it did just that — and then some.
For a while, it seemed like Amber Glenn could sit on the podium after her stunning free skate, declared “total redemption” from what seemed to be a heartbreaking short program. Skate after skate, she held on to her spot.
But the biggest performances were still to come, U.S. teammate Alysa Liu among them.
Liu took the ice for a performance that rocked the standings.
Leaving the crowd roaring and on its feet, Liu skated with ease and joy, jumping up and down with excitement as she exited the ice.
“That was so good,” she said as she awaited her score.
And the judges agreed, awarding her 150.20 points, bringing her total to 226.79, a whopping lead over Japan’s Mone Chiba, who sat at 217.88.
“She really couldn’t have done better,” Olympic gold medalist and commentator Tara Lipinski said.
Liu’s performance bumped Glenn into third and Kaori Sakamoto’s performance left her just shy of the podium. Their Blade Angels teammate, Isabeau Levito, faltered during her skate and ended out of reach from the podium.
In the end, Liu was the only U.S. woman on the podium, finishing in gold medal status just ahead of Japan’s Ami Nakai, who entered the free skate at the top of the standings and finished with a gorgeous free skate.
“The comeback is complete,” commentator Terry Gannon shouted as the scores were read.
The U.S. has not had a woman medal since Sasha Cohen in Turin in 2006. It has not had a gold since Sarah Hughes at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games.
Liu may not have been trying to end that medal drought, but that’s exactly what she did.
“I’ve never seen a comeback like it and I’ve never seen someone withstand pressure like Alysa Liu,” Lipinski said.
Liu was picked for her second Olympic team after briefly retiring following the Beijing Games. She had been burned out by years of practice and competing, but stepping away seemed to rejuvenate the 20-year-old.
Liu’s blond-and-brunette striped hair, prominent frenulum piercing and nonconformist aura have made her a hero of the alt, punk and emo crowd.
“I’m only here because I like it,” she told reporters ahead of her skate — and it appears she liked it enough to win gold.
Where to watch women’s figure skating at the Olympics?
The medal event will re-air at 7 p.m. CT and 8:30 p.m. CT.
WATCH: Winter Olympics Primetime
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