TOKYO (AP) — World champion Alysa Liu of Richmond produced a flawless routine in the women’s free skate as the United States won its sixth gold medal at the figure skating World Team Trophy on Saturday.
Skating to “MacArthur Park” by Donna Summer, the 19-year-old Liu landed seven triple jumps for a personal-best score of 150.97 points. Teammate Amber Glenn was second with 148.93.
Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto was third with 145.00.
Liu last month returned following a nearly two-year retirement to become the first American women’s figure skating world champion in nearly two decades. Lui, who became the youngest-ever U.S. champ when she triumphed at the age of 13 in 2019 and finished sixth at the 2022 Beijing Games before stepping away from the sport a year later, dethroned three-time defending world champ Sakamoto that night with a program that also included a rendition of Summer’s 1978 disco hit.
Alysa Liu, of the United States, performs during the women’s free skating program at the ISU World Team Trophy figure skating competition at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium on Saturday April 19, 2025 in Tokyo. (Kyodo News via AP)
The United States finished the three-day competition with 126 points, 16 ahead of Japan. Italy was third with 86 points to claim its first ever medal in the event.
“We are just beaming. I’m so insanely proud of my team and everyone,” U.S. coach Jason Brown said. “It’s been such an incredible season, and to end it here has been so special.”
The U.S. has medaled at every biennial World Team Trophy since its inception in 2009 and has won six of the nine competitions.
Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara won the pairs free skate as the host nation cut the Americans’ lead to 11 points, but the dominant performances by Glenn and Liu clinched gold for the U.S.
The U.S. headed into the final day with a 15-point lead over Japan after victories in the men’s and ice dance competitions on Friday.
Two-time world champion Ilia Malinin won the men’s free skate to solidify the overall lead for the Americans. Malinin landed four quads in his program to “I’m Not a Vampire,” scoring 183.88 points.
Ice dance world champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates won the free dance segment. The three-time world ice dance champions received 12 points after a season’s best score of 133.51
The World Team Trophy features the top six figure skating teams. France was fourth, followed by Canada and Georgia.
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