Alysa Liu (USA) – Free Skate at the 2025 World Championships

This story, Alyssa Liu, is the moment everyone's been waiting for. U.S. guaranteed a medal. And now, representing the United States of America, away from international competition for about two and a half years after retiring, the 19-year-old from Oakland takes the ice, Alyssa Liu. What a story this would be. It's a skiing trip with friends. She had so much fun. She said, maybe skating could be fun again. She's the oldest of five kids raised in the Bay Area by a single father, Arthur Liu. Came to the U.S. from China in the 80s. Watch. She has so much raw talent. The way she lets her body get into her rotating position so quick. World title at her fingertips. My goodness, starting off with a triple flip. Gorgeous. She told us the difference now is that she takes full ownership of every decision. And you can see that ease and confidence oozing out of her on the ice. Triple lutz, triple toe. She got right in front of us. Sitting in this position, all of this pressure, you would expect to see her legs a little tight, see the nerves. She looks so relaxed. Her jumps actually look bigger in this program than I've seen all week. All the way down to summer. We're up the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston, just about five miles from here. Big choice of music tonight. We're in the second half. 10% bonus. Triple lutz, double axel, double toe, three jump combination. So difficult. Triple lutz. Guys, do you believe in what you're seeing? I am not, Terry. Last jump. If I wasn't here watching, I don't know that I would believe this. One of the most remarkable comebacks ever in skating. That is one of the coolest things I have ever seen in this sport. She was barely skating last year at this time. She was flawless. That's the best program. Alyssa, I agree with you. She had to find her skates this time last year. You didn't even know where you came out of. This moment. 20 years since the last American woman won the world championship. Sportsman. Can't beat it. Peggy Fleming, Brian Boitano. They can't believe it. Come here. Sit down. Let's sit down. Here we go. She's got to get it. 143.41 is what she needs. She wore gold for a reason, Terrence. Alyssa Liu of the United States of America has earned a free skate award. Alyssa Liu, that was awesome. Your world champion. This is one of the best skating moments. And tears from a three-time world champ who just won the silver medal. And thank goodness for a skiing trip in December of 2023. And Terry, this is all happening. A year before the Olympic Games. Unbelievable. That's an overused word in sports. This is unbelievable. Barely believe it. Alyssa Liu is the world champion with Andrea Nam. Well, Terry, you said you couldn't believe it. It looked, Alyssa, like you could not believe it. That might have been the easy part. The hardest part is going to be to describe what this moment is like for you. I have no words. I never thought I would do such a good program. This is the best run that I've ever done. Out of practice, every competition I've done this season, this was the best. No question. I'm so happy. If anybody had told you a year and a half ago that you would be standing here as the world champion, what would you have said? I would have panicked. I would have done everything in my power to not make this happen, probably. You also called this a starter season. How much better can you be? I mean, personally, I can be so much better. That's why I call this a starter season, because this season is like me picking up the pieces. So I don't know how I just did this. You were on the podium in 2022, and you retired. How does this compare, though, considering that you did this on your terms? I'm not going to lie. This is an insane story. I don't know how I came back to be world champion. I never would have thought. Even coming into this competition, I couldn't believe I won the short. I was like, I don't think I'm the best in the world. I was like, this doesn't feel like a win. But now, I don't know. I have to process this. Well, you are. Congratulations, world champion. Thank you, Terry. Alyssa, believe it. You are the world champion. I'm going to take this in and process this. I'll sit back for a moment. What an incredible night in Boston. Todd takes Prevagen for his brain, and this is his story.