American Alysa Liu Wins Gold at 2025 World Figure Skating Championships

BOSTON, Mass. — The 2025 ISU World Figure Skating Championships concluded today with American Alysa Liu standing atop the podium in the women’s singles event, scoring 222.97 points. The championships, held from March 25–30 at TD Garden, brought together the world’s elite figure skaters competing for Olympic qualification opportunities.

Liu, the defending champion, delivered a stellar performance that included a series of technical jumps and intricate choreography. “Winning this gold medal means the world to me. It’s not just about the score but the journey that brought me here,” Liu stated in a post-competition interview. She not only secured gold but also demonstrated her ability to handle the pressure of defending her title.

Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto and Mone Chiba followed Liu on the podium, earning silver and bronze with scores of 217.98 and 215.24, respectively. Sakamoto’s expressive routine captivated spectators, while Chiba’s technical prowess shone through in her performance.

The men’s short program was dominated by Ilia Malinin of the USA, who achieved a personal best of 110.41 points. His electrifying routine featured a quadruple flip and a quad Lutz-triple toe loop combination. “Stepping onto the ice, I felt more nervous than usual, but once the music started, I got into my flow,” Malinin revealed. This lead positions him favorably going into the free skate this Sunday.

Malinin’s closest competitor, Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama, ranked second with 107.09 points. His performance was not without its challenges, yet he managed to maintain a strong score as he heads into the next round.

In the pairs competition, Japan’s Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara successfully defended their title, finishing with a score of 219.79 points. Their near-perfect execution of lifts and throws edged them ahead of Germany’s Minerva Hase and Nikita Volodin by a slim margin of 0.71 points. Miura expressed delight in their victory: “To win again feels amazing, especially after last year’s silver. We worked so hard for this moment.”

In ice dance, the American duo Madison Chock and Evan Bates clinched gold with a total of 222.06 points, followed closely by Canada’s Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier at 216.54 points. This victory marked a significant achievement for Chock and Bates as they reaffirmed their status as leaders in the discipline.

The championships also served as a qualification event for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics. A total of 24 quotas are available for men’s and women’s singles skaters, alongside places for pairs and dance teams, adding extra significance to the performances in Boston.

The event is set to continue with rhythm dance and women’s free skate competitions, where skaters will continue to vie for coveted spots at the upcoming Olympic Games.