WICHITA, Kan. — At the U.S. Figure Skating Championships on Thursday night, Alysa Liu displayed a noticeable smudge of blood on her dress, a powerful reminder of the challenges she has faced over the years.
The 19-year-old Liu, who once made history by becoming the youngest American champion at just 13 years old and successfully defended her title the following year, stepped away from figure skating in 2022, feeling accomplished. With a desire to embrace the next chapter of her life, she enrolled at UCLA to pursue a psychology degree.
However, in early 2023, Liu chose to return to the rink. Under the spotlight once again, she performed an impressive and moving short program, earning 76.36 points and positioning herself ahead of two-time U.S. champion Bradie Tennell and defending champion Amber Glenn as she approached the free skate on Friday night.
“I was emotional from the very beginning to the end,” Liu shared, explaining that she inadvertently nicked her palm when squeezing her skate blade tightly during her routine. “I really loved that for me, and I felt very connected to the ice.”
Earlier on the same night, in the pairs segment, Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea delivered a nearly flawless short program, scoring 77.19 points. This performance outshone their previous best in international competitions by over four points, putting them more than eight points ahead of Emily Chan and Spencer Howe, who secured second place, as they head to the free skate on Saturday.
The current nationals are particularly significant, as they will help forecast the U.S. team for the Milano-Cortina Games set to take place next year. Additionally, they will play a critical role in determining the American contingent for the upcoming world championships, which will be hosted in Boston this March for the first time in nine years.
Reflecting on her journey, Liu expressed how the nostalgia of her previous championships feels distant. “I don’t remember the first time I won [nationals] or what it felt like, honestly,” she said after returning to the ice following a ski trip. “When I watch old videos of myself, it feels like it wasn’t me, you know? But it was, obviously. It was just so long ago.”
Liu’s score from Thursday would have ranked third in international competition for the season and exceeded Tennell’s score of 71.23, placing her in second. Glenn, who scored 70.91, made a mistake during her combination jump, which affected her overall performance.
Despite facing injuries to her foot and ankle for many years, Tennell was pleased with her performance, stating, “It felt amazing. This program is so lively and so energetic and so much fun for me to perform. There’s nothing like performing for your home country. Nationals always feels like coming home. And I’m very happy.”
Conversely, Glenn expressed her dissatisfaction with her performance, especially given her previous success this season. “I didn’t feel the attack or adrenaline going out there today. I came into this event trained and ready but definitely felt more fatigued and not quite as — I’m trying to find a word for it — exhilarated as I’d like to be.”
Kam and O’Shea, who ranked fifth at the Grand Prix Final last month, kicked off their short program with a clean triple twist and executed flawless side-by-side triple salchows. Their standout moment was the throw triple loop, which both skaters acknowledged as a highlight of their routine, celebrating enthusiastically as their program came to a close.
Their mothers, who anxiously watched from the stands, finally let out a breath of relief and celebration. “My mom and I share some high anxiety during pressure moments. I think she knows what I feel,” Kam noted. “Seeing them on the big screen is really special for them to attend these events with us.”
Chan and Howe, who won silver at the nationals in 2023, scored 69.10 points with their performance to Lara Fabian’s rendition of “Je Suis Malade.” Their score was slightly impacted by a wobble during a lift in the middle of their routine. Efimova and Mitrofanov, reigning silver medalists, trailed closely with a score of 69.03 points.
“We were both really happy with how we felt out there,” said Chan, who had coped with a concussion earlier in the season that limited her time on the ice. “We focused on our training and wanted to showcase our improvement tonight.”
