Alysa Liu left the figure skating at 16. Now she is back and in place for an important victory

BOSTON – The most recent relationships estimate that about 20 percent of American pensioners finds himself working again. One of these is 19 years old.

But Alysa Liu has not returned to work, dazzling the track at the TD Garden on Wednesday, because it is too difficult to make ends meet. She returned to the ice because, emotionally speaking, even spiritually, they finally do it.

The version of the sixteen year old of herself had the courage to leave. No longer be complicit to surrender to life to sport at the expense of his happiness. He greeted figure skating after finishing third in the 2022 World Championships.

“Moments like these made me understand that the sixteen year old was so right,” Liu said with a proud smile. “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t decide to retire for a while. So I’m happy to have listened to myself … I was, as, a little in my world and people always told me not to make the decisions I made. But I’m really happy. I think I have a good intuition. Maybe.”

Three years later, Liu returned to the world championships much more whole. And its holistic development has shone in an extraordinary performance in the short women’s program. He said it wasn’t fun before, which is why he left. But he was unmistakable in his return. The joy he issued this time was not manufactured. The trust that exuded was born from a well of inner peace. For this reason, Liu stole the day.

The best 🔥 of the season has returned with a bang this season: Alysa Liu takes the command #Worldfigure In Boston, right in front of the crowd of the house 🇺🇸✨ What. A. Moment. 💥👏#Figureskating pic.twitter.com/sbvhfkoykc

– Isu Figure Skating (@isu_figure) March 26, 2025

He stole him from Amber Glenn, the dominant American whose race of perfection ended with a fall on Wednesday on his triple ax.

From Kaori Sakamoto, the three -time world champion in defense who simply did not show his usual unspoiled splendor.

From his expectations. It was clearly moved in the end, flooded for applause, ovation and plush animals thrown on the ice. It was a moment earned through sacrifice. He chose herself on sport and ended up recovering sport.

“When you want to do it, even your feelings and emotions are and then you can perform with your best skills,” he said. “When you hide, you’re moving away or not 100 % dedicated to your work, it won’t work.”

Liu recorded a career performance: 74.58 points, the highest I have ever marked in an international competition in the short program. It was such a show, none of the next 15 skaters could better the Liu score.

The American colleague Isabeau Levito approached: 73.33.

Levito, the silver medal of the 2024 world championship, has lost four months with a reaction of stress in the right foot, including the US January championships. Levito was not sure of how his return to the worlds would take place. He has armed the pressure on the podium, grateful for the ability to compete, although not 100 %enough.

“There was such a great chance that I wouldn’t have made it,” said Levito, 18 years old, who finished just behind the Japanese Mone Chiba (73.44). “When I tried to come back before – when I was not completely healed and we still didn’t know – to compete in citizens, and I couldn’t … I thought my season was over and I was so sad. I thought there was no possibility.”

Now, it has a great chance. His performance on Wednesday was highlighted by the turn in time on the choreography sequence, on the melody of Audrey Hepburn’s “Moon River” in the 1961 version of “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”, which delighted the adoring crowd.

A strong performance by Liu or Levito in the free skate competition on Friday – which will determine the winners of the medal – could affect one of their names in the history of skating of the US figure. An American did not win the gold of the world champion from Kimmie Meissner in 2006. Since then, the only US medals at the worlds are Ashley Wagner’s silver in 2016, Liu’s bronze in 2022 and Levito’s silver last year. Of course, winning in Boston this weekend would be a serious push to trust for their possibilities of gold medicine at the Winter Olympics in February in Milan, in Italy.

Strangely, the hopes of gold America in the winter Olympics seemed to get a push from Glenn.

Anyone who has seen his reaction at the end of his short program would be expected to approach these 11 months with a revenge.

The anger in his star and tears well in the eyes were a window on Glenn’s motivation. After An unbeaten season of the Grand PrixAnd taking the shelf like America with a gold at the US championships, Glenn seemed dead on Wednesday in Boston. He sat down at his first jump, missing the landing on a triple ax. He finished the program stoically, but the damage was done. The score of Glenn, 67.65, obtained his ninth.

The disappointment painted her face at the end of her performance. He took a knee on the ice, a time to elaborate what has just happened. But when he got up and when he explained, the ferocity in his eyes told of a woman who found a new purpose in his mission.

Each skater gave a quote displayed on the video card before their routine. Glenn’s was “Calm the Beast”. After falling, the beast was no longer calm.

“To be honest, I didn’t have to do too socially this season,” he said to respond to the fall. “So losing the first element is very difficult.”

Her coach, Damon Allen, praised her to stay with the program. In the past, Glenn would let falsehood be the better of her. But he fought. This is how it has become such a late strength in her career. This is why the safe money is bouncing.

“I rely on my training,” he said.

If a indicator was on Wednesday, Glenn will make Liu push her. While six years younger than Glenn, Liu’s maturation and comfort are difficult to lose. The prodigy seems to reach the peak after time.

He started entering the track with a cart of Cart, an impulsive introduction to the new Liu. Then on the ice, it was a photo of grace and certainty. His routine perfumed by a refresh spirit. His triple jumps, including a Lutz, were executed with fluidity that contradicted the pressure of the moment. Liu was free.

The song he chose – “Promise” of Laufey – was an ode for his departure and return journey. Of a break with a love necessary to be rekindled.

I made a promise.
To distantisms.
He took a flight through the skies of Aurora.
Honestly, I didn’t think about how we didn’t say goodbye.

Wednesday, Liu said again. To the phase of the world championships. To the thrill of success. To the 16 -year -old girl who promised herself and, in turn, made everything possible.

(Arysa Liu’s top photo during Wednesday’s short program: Geoff Robins / AFP via Getty Images)