Alysa Liu has positioned herself as Team USA's final hope for an individual medal in figure skating at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics after a successful short program. As the reigning world champion, her performance was particularly noteworthy as she executed a triple Lutz-triple loop combination, a feat that only Liu attempted among the American participants. Following her performance, she is just two points behind the leader, Ami Nakai, and holds a competitive position just behind Japanese skater Kaori Sakamoto in the scores.

Liu expressed her excitement and satisfaction with her performance, highlighting the support she received from her family and friends, who were present at the event for the first time. This emotional connection seemed to enhance her performance, allowing her to skate with confidence and poise. Her feelings of connection to her program and the presence of her loved ones contributed to a memorable moment for the young athlete as she aims for gold.

The disappointment experienced by the American women's figure skating team thus far may lay additional pressure on Liu as she vies for the individual medal, increasing the stakes for her upcoming performances. As she continues in the competition, all eyes will be on Liu to see if she can deliver under pressure and achieve an Olympic medal for Team USA, something that has become increasingly elusive in recent years for American figure skaters.