Photo credit: www.theguardian.com
Alysa Liu made history at just 13 years old when she became the youngest US figure skating champion. After stepping away from the sport at 16, uncertain of her future, she has made a remarkable comeback at 19 and is now close to achieving a coveted world title that has eluded American women for nearly two decades.
During the opening day of the world figure skating championships, Liu, hailing from Clovis, California, delivered an impressive short program that captivated the audience at TD Garden. She earned a personal best score of 74.58, her highest international score to date, with an emotional performance set to “Promise” by Laufey and Dan Wilson. The crowd’s enthusiastic reaction moved her to tears as she left the ice.
“Beyond the scores, I felt I skated beautifully compared to any of my previous competitions,” Liu reflected. “I was trying to keep my lips from quivering.”
World Figure Skating Championships 2025
Schedule
All times EST.
Wed 26 Mar
- Women’s Short, 12.05pm (Peacock)
- Women’s Short, 3pm (USA Network)
- Remembrance Ceremony, 6.15pm (Peacock)
- Pairs’ Short, 6.45pm (Peacock)
Thu 27 Mar
- Men’s Short, 11.05am (Peacock)
- Men’s Short, 3pm (USA Network)
- Pairs’ Free, 6.15pm (Peacock)
- Pairs’ Free, 8pm (USA Network)
Fri 28 Mar
- Rhythm Dance, 11.15am (Peacock)
- Rhythm Dance, 3pm (USA Network)
- Women’s Free, 6pm (Peacock)
- Women’s Free, 8pm (NBC/Peacock)
Sat 29 Mar
- Free Dance, 1.30pm (Peacock)
- Free Dance, 3pm (USA Network)
- Men’s Free, 6pm (Peacock)
- Men’s Free, 8pm (NBC/Peacock)
Sun 30 Mar
- Exhibition Gala, 2pm (Peacock)
How to watch outside the US
United Kingdom
Premier Sports secured the broadcasting rights for the World Figure Skating Championships in the UK, ensuring coverage until 2028. Access requires a subscription to Premier Sports, which offers live broadcasts of the events.
Australia
SBS provides free live coverage of the World Figure Skating Championships through SBS On Demand.
As the 18th skater out of 33, Liu maintained her strong position throughout, leading into Friday’s free skate. This marks a significant chance for her to become the first American woman to take home a world title since Kimmie Meissner in 2006.
Liu’s score put her ahead of Japan’s Mone Chiba, who scored 73.44, and fellow American Isabeau Levito, the reigning world silver medalist, who earned 73.33 to secure third.
When asked about her unexpected success, Liu expressed her bewilderment. “I’m not sure how I managed to come out on top,” she admitted. “It feels different for me mentally, but I enjoy it. People say my state of mind seems to ‘work’, but I’m not quite sure what that means.”
Her short program featured a flawless triple Lutz–triple toe loop combination, impressive spins, and engaging choreography that earned her applause from the audience. Liu even added an unplanned cartwheel at the beginning of her routine.
“I wanted to do something special,” she explained. “I noticed the space I had and thought a cartwheel would fit nicely.”
Liu’s return to competitive skating has surpassed many expectations. After stepping away following a bronze medal at the 2022 world championships, she announced her comeback early last year, armed with a renewed sense of motivation and aspirations for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina.
“Leading after the short doesn’t change my goals,” Liu said. “I still aim to deliver a great performance in my free skate. Ideally, that would be a dream come true.”
Her coaches greeted her with smiles and a warm “welcome back” after her performance.
Just behind Liu, Levito exhibited her own strength following a four-month hiatus due to a foot injury. Her themed short program inspired by Audrey Hepburn was well-received by the crowd.
“Throughout the program, I had a thousand thoughts racing through my mind,” Levito shared. “I was nervous and thought I might forget how to compete. But I’m thrilled to be back.”
Japan’s reigning three-time world champion, Kaori Sakamoto, faced uncharacteristic difficulties in her routine, finishing in fifth place with a score of 71.03. An error in landing a double flip instead of a triple may have thwarted her bid to make history by winning four consecutive world titles, a feat last achieved by American champion Carol Heiss from 1956 to 1960.
Amber Glenn, a strong competitor with an undefeated record in the Grand Prix series, faltered on her signature triple Axel and dropped to ninth with a score of 67.65. Glenn has been the only woman in the competition this season to successfully land that particular jump.
“I’m understandably disappointed right now,” Glenn said. “Recovering from a fall is always challenging.”
South Korea’s Kim Chae-yeon, recently honored with victories at the Four Continents and Asian Winter Games, also struggled, finishing 11th with 65.67. She now faces the challenge of replicating her previous year’s bronze medal performance from Montreal.
The absence of Russian skaters, barred from international competitions due to the war in Ukraine, has significantly altered the competitive landscape. Historically dominant in women’s figure skating, their continued exclusion has opened doors for emerging talents from Japan, South Korea, and the United States.
The championship commenced with a moment of reflection, honoring the 28 members of the skating community lost in a tragic accident on January 29 when an American Airlines flight collided with a military helicopter. Among the deceased were two skaters, two coaches, and two parents affiliated with the Boston skating community.
“The young lives we lost represented the future of our sport,” stated Doug Zeghibe, the club’s chief executive. “It means a lot for this loss to be acknowledged.”
The competition continues with the pairs’ free skate and the commencement of the men’s and ice dance events, culminating with medal presentations on Saturday night. This championship is crucial for determining Olympic qualification for the 2026 Games, as national standings in each discipline will play a key role.
For Alysa Liu, the journey toward Milano Cortina has begun, but she is focused on capturing a world title first. “I didn’t set high expectations for this season,” Liu remarked, “but I’m confident next season will be even better.”
Currently, Liu stands at the forefront of the competitive landscape, skating as if she never left.
Source
www.theguardian.com