Alysa Liu Poised for World Championship Title Amid Emotional Tribute

BOSTON – Almost three years after retiring from figure skating, American Alysa Liu is positioned to secure a world championship title in a dramatic comeback. The 19-year-old Liu topped the short program at the 2025 World Figure Skating Championships in Boston on Wednesday, scoring 74.58 points.

Should she clinch the title, Liu would become the first American woman to win a world championship since Kimmie Meissner in 2006. Last year’s runner-up, Isabeau Levito, is also in contention after finishing third in the short program, while reigning U.S. champion Amber Glenn is currently ranked ninth.

Liu burst onto the scene in 2019, becoming the youngest skater to win an individual title at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships at just 13. Her success continued with a second title the following year, positioning her to be a major figure in the sport.

However, after competing in the 2022 Beijing Olympics and securing a bronze medal at the world championships shortly after, Liu announced her retirement at 16, stating she was “satisfied” with her achievements and ready to move on with her life.

Feeling rejuvenated, Liu made a return to the ice last year after a self-imposed break. “I think that I have good intuition, and I have learned to trust it,” she told U.S. Figure Skating on Thursday. “I don’t think that I would be where I am right now if I had not listened to myself. Others told me that I was making a mistake, but I knew that I was doing what was right for me.”

Her remarkable performance this week marked Liu’s highest short score in an international competition, showcasing a triple flip-triple toe loop combination and a triple Lutz. Japan’s Mone Chiba followed closely in second place with 73.44 points, while Levito scored 73.33. Reigning three-time world champion Kaori Sakamoto of Japan stood fifth with 71.03 points. Glenn, who fell on her triple Axel, finished with 67.65 points.

The women’s singles competition will conclude with the free skate on Friday at 6 p.m. ET. The opening of this year’s championships was bittersweet, as the figure skating community paid tribute to the victims of a midair collision that claimed 67 lives, including that of 11 young skaters and several coaches.

Kim Jae-youl, president of the International Skating Union (ISU), expressed the community’s grief at the opening ceremony: “For those who have experienced deep loss, we know that time does not simply erase pain. For many of us, it feels like we are frozen in time.” A video tribute honoring the athletes who lost their lives was displayed, complemented by a choir performance.

Doug Lane, whose son and wife died in the tragic incident, urged attendees to support the surviving young skaters. “Take extra care to lift up the young skaters that are still here,” he encouraged. “They’re hurting. I hope we can support them in their skating journeys and help them find happiness off the ice too.”