North American skater Alysa Liu, 20 years old, won the gold medal in the women’s individual figure skating competition at the Olimpíadas of Inverno Milano Cortina 2026, held at Itália. The victory occurred last week, marking the first Olympic gold for a woman from the Estados Unidos in the sport in 24 years, since the feat of Sarah Hughes in 2002. Liu also contributed to the team gold, consolidating a historic performance for the country in the event.
The athlete overcame strong competitors, including Japanese skaters such as Kaori Sakamoto and Ami Nakai, with an impeccable technical presentation in the free program. Seu returning to sport after a period of early retirement highlighted resilience and career focus.
Barbra Streisand congratulates Alysa Liu on social media
Actress and singer Barbra Streisand published a message on Instagram celebrating Alysa Liu’s achievement. In the caption, she expressed joy over her victory in Milão and mentioned that her husband, James Brolin, remembered that the skater had used the song “Don’t Rain on My Parade”, by
The post included a photo of Streisand with her husband alongside the Chinese Choy family, with whom she had close ties in her youth. Streisand commented that she heard that Liu is half Chinese and recalled her experience at Brooklyn, where she worked in a family restaurant since she was 12 years old and considered her mother as a second mother.
Divided reactions on social media
The publication of Streisand provoked mixed reactions among internet users. Muitos praised the recognition of the Olympic achievement and the musical connection highlighted by the artist. Outros criticized the inclusion of personal details about ethnicity and old stories, considering them disconnected from Liu’s sporting achievement.
Comments pointed out that the message diverted the focus from the victory to personal anecdotes, generating accusations of a lack of sensitivity in the context. Apesar of the criticism, the post maintained high visibility, with shares and debates about the tone in public tributes.
Alysa Liu’s career context
Liu began to stand out early in figure skating, with national and international titles before the age of 16. Ela chose to take a break from the sport, returning later with a new approach and control over his trajectory. Preparing for the Olimpíadas of 2026 involved intense training and overcoming personal challenges.
His performance in Milão included highly difficult technical elements executed with precision. The individual gold came after a routine that combined grace and strength, receiving high marks from the judges. The victory reinforced the positive moment of Estados Unidos figure skating in the Olympic cycle.
Post details by Barbra Streisand
Streisand, at 83, maintains an active presence on social media, frequently sharing opinions and tributes. The message about Liu followed the pattern of posts that mix celebrations with the artist’s personal stories. The chosen photo showed a family moment, emphasizing emotional bonds built over the years.
The reference to the 2019 song highlighted an interesting coincidence between Streisand’s career and Liu’s trajectory on the ice. The post did not receive a direct response from the skater, but it contributed to the reach of the news about the Olympic gold.
Historical importance of gold from Liu
Alysa Liu’s gold medal ended a 24-year drought for American women in Olympic singles figure skating. The sport has seen dominance from other nations in recent editions, and the 2026 result represents a milestone for Team USA. Liu joined names like Tara Lipinski and Sarah Hughes in the country’s pantheon of Olympic champions.
The team victory magnified the impact, with collective contributions that included other American skaters. The event in Milão and Cortina highlighted the evolution of the sport, with a focus on diversity and new emerging talents.
