– I felt so anchored in my program, at a different level than at the beginning of the season. “That’s why I’m very happy,” Alysa Liu told the official Olympic media channel after the short broadcast.
In fact, Alysa Liu stopped figure skating at the age of 16, just a few months after winning bronze at the World Championships. She was tired of everyday life and just wanted to be a teenager.
But after two years, she realized she longed to return to the ice. This time, however, it would be on her terms. She would select the music for her programs and be involved in the creative process of creating the program.
She had control over what her clothes looked like, how training was conducted, and no one would tell her what she could and couldn’t eat.
It showed It turned out to be the right decision for her. Last year, Alysa Liu surprisingly won World Championship gold, and the 20-year-old’s short program in Milan was first-class.
“Because I really want to be here, I don’t get nervous,” she said, saying she has received great support from family and friends locally in Milan.
With a score of 76.59, Alysa Liu secured third place.
The best performer in the short program was 17-year-old Japanese Ami Nakai, whose playful style earned her a new personal best of 78.71.
Second before the decisive free skate is Kaori Sakamoto with 77.23 and fourth is the third Japanese ice skater Mone Chiba with 74 points.
After the competition Alysa Liu was asked if she could win over all three skaters from Japan.
– I don’t think so. Defeating them is not my goal. “My goal is to do my show and share my story,” she replied.
Behind the four at the top there are another four to five skaters who can intervene in the medal fight.
Surprisingly, one person who is not there is the American Amber Glenn. She made a costly mistake in her program and is in 13th place after the short program with 67.39 points.
