{"id":1964,"date":"2025-03-27T12:38:05","date_gmt":"2025-03-27T09:38:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vsaworld.com\/blog\/?p=1964"},"modified":"2025-03-27T12:38:06","modified_gmt":"2025-03-27T09:38:06","slug":"american-figure-skater-alysa-liu-shines-on-opening-night-of-world-championships","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vsaworld.com\/blog\/american-figure-skater-alysa-liu-shines-on-opening-night-of-world-championships\/","title":{"rendered":"American Figure Skater Alysa Liu Shines on Opening Night of World Championships"},"content":{"rendered":"

Alysa Liu<\/a> has never been one to hesitate, whether it was her sudden retirement after the 2022 Winter Olympics or her equally surprising announcement of a comeback early last year. So, it was fitting that the 19-year-old American figure skater seized the moment on Wednesday night, the opening night of the World Figure Skating Championships, with a spontaneous cartwheel on her way to the ice\u2014and then delivered a flawless performance to take the lead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As her name echoed through the arena for the warm-up to her short program, Liu found herself briefly unsure of how to make her entrance. \u201cThen I saw there was a lot of space,\u201d she recalled with a smile, \u201cand I thought, \u2018What a great place to do a cartwheel!\u2019\u201d She executed it perfectly, setting the tone for a night where everything clicked. Scoring an international-best 74.58 points, Liu surged ahead of Japan\u2019s Mone Chiba (73.44) and her American teammate Isabeau Levito (73.33), heading into Friday\u2019s free skate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Liu and Levito now stand poised to potentially end a nearly two-decade drought for the U.S., aiming to become the first American women\u2019s world champion since Kimmie Meissner in 2006. \u201cMoments like these made me realize 16-year-old me was so right,\u201d Liu said, reflecting on her decision to step away from the sport when it stopped feeling like fun. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t be here if I didn\u2019t decide to retire a little bit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Bold Return Pays Off<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Liu\u2019s journey back to the ice has been anything but conventional. After burnout led her to retire at just 16, she defied doubters who questioned her choices. \u201cPeople would tell me not to make the decisions I made,\u201d she said, \u201cbut I\u2019m really glad. I have good intuition, I think.\u201d That intuition propelled her to the top of the leaderboard in Boston, where her triple flip-triple toe and triple lutz earned her massive points in a program that radiated confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Behind her, Chiba delivered a fist-pumping performance that earned a standing ovation, while Levito\u2014competing in her first event since an injury sidelined her after Skate America in October\u2014showcased her signature artistry and technical precision. Japan\u2019s Kaori Sakamoto, chasing a historic fourth consecutive title, sits fifth with 71.03 points after doubling a planned triple flip. Meanwhile, U.S. champion Amber Glenn, a pre-event favorite, stumbled on her triple axel and landed ninth with 67.65. \u201cJust going to have to rely on my training,\u201d Glenn said, looking ahead to the free skate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n