Team USA figure skater Alysa Liu has won Olympic gold in the women's free skate final, ending a 24-year drought for American women to win the event. Liu landed all her jumps, celebrating enthusiastically after her performance. Her total score of 226.79, including a season-best free skate score of 150.20, secured the victory. Japanese rivals Kaori Sakamoto and Ami Nakai finished behind Liu. 
Liu was the sole American woman to qualify for a chance at the podium after the short program, with teammates Amber Glenn and Isabeau Levito not advancing. The pressure was high for Liu to secure a gold medal for the U.S. in an individual event, especially after men's skater Ilia Malinin finished eighth following two falls. Liu also played a key role in the team event gold medal win. 
This victory follows a challenging period for Liu, who was reportedly targeted by Chinese government spies prior to the 2022 Beijing Games. She described the experience as "unbelievable" and "freaky." Liu has not ruled out her life story, including the spying incident, being adapted into a movie, emphasizing a focus on her father's story as the root of these events. 