NEWS

With Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto and Ami Nakai leading after the short program, the drought looked destined to continue — until Alysa Liu stepped onto the ice. Two years after walking away from the sport, the 20-year-old delivered a flawless, fearless free skate that shattered her season best, electrified the arena, and ended with a gold medal the U.S. hadn’t seen since 2002. She retired. She came back. She said she didn’t “need” the medal. And then she won it anyway. How did Alysa Liu pull off one of the most stunning Olympic comebacks in figure skating history? 👀🥇👇

phuquy Avatar

Posted by

phuquy

-

Liu wins elusive Olympic women’s figure skating gold for U.S.

MILAN — It had been 24 years since an American woman had won an individual Olympic gold in figure skating entering Thursday’s free skate.

And with Japan’s Ami Nakai and Kaori Sakamoto in the top two spots after the short program, it didn’t exactly seem likely that drought would be snapped for at least another four years.

But on Thursday night, with the eyes of the world watching, Alysa Liu — the 20-year-old with bleached tree-ringed hair from California just two years removed from unretirement — made the impossible look effortless with a flawless performance that combined her signature artistry with perfectly executed jumps.

Alysa Liu gave the United States its first women’s figure skating gold medal in 24 years at the 2026 Winter Olympics on Thursday. Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
Skating to Donna Summer’s “MacArthur Park Suite” — the same program with which she won the world championship title last March — Liu landed her triple flip to open her skate, followed by her triple lutz-triple toe loop combination, and almost immediately had the crowd clapping along to the disco beat. As she skated off the ice, Liu turned to the camera and exclaimed, “That’s what I’m f—ing talking about!”

She jumped up and down after she left the ice in celebration with her coaches Phillip DiGuglielmo and Massimo Scali, and she was elated when her score of 150.20, shattering her previous season best, was announced. Her total score of 226.79 immediately gave her the lead and, with just Nakai and Sakamoto remaining, she was guaranteed a medal. But, despite the stakes, she sat in the rink-side seat reserved for the leader and clapped and cheered on her two competitors as they skated.

She later told reporters whatever happened was just a bonus. She had already had the opportunity to showcase her art and creativity to the world.

“I don’t need this [medal],” Liu said. “But what I needed was the stage and I got that, so I was all good. No matter what happened.”

When Nakai’s scores were announced, Liu’s teammate Amber Glenn jumped up next to her and raised her hand in celebration as if to pronounce the new champion. Liu then went and hugged everyone in the vicinity, including Sakamoto, who earned the silver, and Nakai, who claimed the bronze.

Thursday’s outcome would hardly be surprising for anyone who followed Liu’s early days in the sport. Liu became the youngest woman in United States history to win the national championship as a 13-year-old in 2019. She won it again the following year, and an Olympic berth came as a 16-year-old in 2022.

But, following a sixth-place finish at the Beijing Games and a third-place result at the world championships soon after, Liu announced, via Instagram, she would be retiring from the sport citing burnout. For the next two years, she lived the life of a teenager — hanging out with friends, taking vacations and enrolling at UCLA.

Eventually, the ice lured her back. After a family ski trip reminded her of the thrill she felt skating, she found herself at a public skating session. It didn’t take long before she decided to officially make a comeback. She hired DiGuglielmo and Scali, two of her former coaches, who were initially apprehensive. Few had managed to come back after such a lengthy absence, and they told her as much.

Liu was persistent. And this time, she insisted, every decision would come from her. She would have the last say in everything from the music in her programs to her costumes to when and how long she trained. She wanted her ideas and her creativity to be reflected in everything she did.

Last season, her first back, she won the title at the world championships. Her team knew she had the potential and the programs to win, but it wasn’t their priority. For Liu, she just wanted to show her art on a big stage.

That same laid-back attitude persisted going into 2025-26.

“We never actually had a goal of winning. We never said winning an Olympic gold medal,” DiGuglielmo said on Thursday night. “We never said it because it was kind of taboo … For her, it’s all about showing her art and the goal [for this season] was just to make the Olympic team. That was the really big deal for her.”

Liu was excited to have the true Olympic experience, DiGuglielmo explained, after the 2022 Games had been held with strict COVID-19 protocols in place. The only singles skater for the U.S. team who had been to the Olympics before, Liu wanted to take everything in and show everyone who she is and her journey. She also said she was “honored” to have the chance to perform in front of a crowd, as well as her friends and family who were in attendance.

“I think my story is more important than anything to me, and that’s what I hold dear,” Liu said on Thursday. “And this journey has been incredible, and my life has just been — I have no complaints and I’m just so grateful for everything.”

DiGuglielmo said Thursday’s final result was irrelevant. Just being at the Games and Liu getting a chance to make new memories was already a victory. So much so, he told a small group of reporters that he and Scali toasted to Liu before the free skate with “two lovely glasses of Paul Rose champagne” before walking over to the rink.

“We did a little pre-celebratory thing, like we learned from her,” he said. “A third place, fourth place [finish] would’ve still been an incredible accomplishment. I can’t sit here and say she has to win. [Saying] she has to win doesn’t jibe with her values.”

Liu had already collected an Olympic gold medal in the team event last week. She had been among a trio of American women — who dubbed themselves the “Blade Angels” — who all had a chance for the podium. Glenn, the three-time reigning national champion, had been considered among the favorites, but a botched jump in her short program had her fall down the standings into 13th place. Isabeau Levito was in eighth place entering Thursday’s free skate.

Levito fell in her free skate and finished in 12th place, but Glenn had a redemptive performance. Skating in the second group (out of four), she triumphantly landed her high-scoring triple axel and was nearly flawless. Her score of 147.52 for a total of 214.53 put her in the lead until the final four competitors.

While clearly disappointed to have not finished with an individual medal, Glenn stood in ovation for Liu during her program and couldn’t hide her excitement for her friend when it was over.

“Her story of taking a step back, mental health — I think it really attests to you never know what the journey to success is going to be,” Glenn said. “I really hope that can reach the skating community, that it’s OK to take time.”

They tracked 1.2 million babies for a decade — and the “meat myth” didn’t survive the data. A massive national study led by researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and Israel’s Health Ministry followed infants from vegetarian, vegan, and omnivorous households — and found their growth by age 2 was nearly identical. Weight. Height. Head circumference. Across the board, babies raised in plant-based homes developed along the same trajectories as their meat-eating peers. The research, published in JAMA Network Open, analyzed health data from 2014 to 2023 — covering about 70% of children nationwide. In Israel, nearly 95% of babies attend government wellness clinics, creating one of the largest infant nutrition datasets ever examined. Yes, vegan infants showed slightly higher odds of being underweight in the first 60 days. But by 24 months? The difference disappeared. Stunting rates were low across all groups. No significant developmental gaps. Researchers say the key isn’t meat — it’s planning. Well-balanced plant-based diets, proper prenatal care, and nutritional guidance matter more than whether chicken or tofu is on the menu. And then there’s iron — the nutrient critics always point to. According to the researchers, plant foods like legumes often contain more iron than meat. While absorption differs, families who plan carefully appear to balance it out. The bigger warning? Ultra-processed food. Vegan junk food exists too — and that’s where real risk may lie. So if nearly 1.2 million data points show no developmental disadvantage… Why does the myth still persist? Full story in the comments.
They tracked 1.2 million babies for a decade — and the “meat myth” didn’t survive the data. A massive national study led by researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and Israel’s Health Ministry followed infants from vegetarian, vegan, and omnivorous households — and found their growth by age 2 was nearly identical. Weight. Height. Head circumference. Across the board, babies raised in plant-based homes developed along the same trajectories as their meat-eating peers. The research, published in JAMA Network Open, analyzed health data from 2014 to 2023 — covering about 70% of children nationwide. In Israel, nearly 95% of babies attend government wellness clinics, creating one of the largest infant nutrition datasets ever examined. Yes, vegan infants showed slightly higher odds of being underweight in the first 60 days. But by 24 months? The difference disappeared. Stunting rates were low across all groups. No significant developmental gaps. Researchers say the key isn’t meat — it’s planning. Well-balanced plant-based diets, proper prenatal care, and nutritional guidance matter more than whether chicken or tofu is on the menu. And then there’s iron — the nutrient critics always point to. According to the researchers, plant foods like legumes often contain more iron than meat. While absorption differs, families who plan carefully appear to balance it out. The bigger warning? Ultra-processed food. Vegan junk food exists too — and that’s where real risk may lie. So if nearly 1.2 million data points show no developmental disadvantage… Why does the myth still persist? Full story in the comments.

Vegetarian and vegan babies develop at same rate as meat-eating peers – Israeli study Big-data study by Ben-Gurion…

A simple brain game cut dementia risk by 26% — even 20 years later. Not a miracle drug. Not a new surgery. Just targeted “speed” exercises that retrain how fast your brain processes information. A study published in the Alzheimer’s Association research journal found that participants who practiced specific brain speed exercises — and followed up with booster sessions — were significantly less likely to develop dementia two decades later. Here’s what makes it different: it’s not about memorizing word lists. It’s about forcing the brain to move faster. Training eye coordination. Expanding field of vision. Processing visual and auditory signals more quickly. According to Dr. Perminder Bhatia, when dementia begins, brain connections slow down. Signals weaken. Neurotransmitters decline. But when you repeatedly challenge processing speed, those connections strengthen and fire more efficiently. One example? Programs like BrainHQ’s “Hawk Eye,” designed to sharpen visual speed and reaction time. The idea is adaptation — pushing the brain slightly beyond its comfort zone so it rewires itself. Doctors recommend starting after 50. But the research suggests anyone can benefit. And in a world where dementia risk rises sharply with age, that 26% reduction isn’t small. It raises a bigger question: if something this simple can reshape brain aging, why aren’t more people doing it? Full story in the comments.
A simple brain game cut dementia risk by 26% — even 20 years later. Not a miracle drug. Not a new surgery. Just targeted “speed” exercises that retrain how fast your brain processes information. A study published in the Alzheimer’s Association research journal found that participants who practiced specific brain speed exercises — and followed up with booster sessions — were significantly less likely to develop dementia two decades later. Here’s what makes it different: it’s not about memorizing word lists. It’s about forcing the brain to move faster. Training eye coordination. Expanding field of vision. Processing visual and auditory signals more quickly. According to Dr. Perminder Bhatia, when dementia begins, brain connections slow down. Signals weaken. Neurotransmitters decline. But when you repeatedly challenge processing speed, those connections strengthen and fire more efficiently. One example? Programs like BrainHQ’s “Hawk Eye,” designed to sharpen visual speed and reaction time. The idea is adaptation — pushing the brain slightly beyond its comfort zone so it rewires itself. Doctors recommend starting after 50. But the research suggests anyone can benefit. And in a world where dementia risk rises sharply with age, that 26% reduction isn’t small. It raises a bigger question: if something this simple can reshape brain aging, why aren’t more people doing it? Full story in the comments.

How brain exercises can help lower the risk of dementia An error has occurred. Please contact support for…

DNA from the glove. DNA from inside the house. No hit in the FBI database. Now the community is on edge. Neighbors are installing cameras. A small vigil grows outside her home. One man who knew her from church said, “We’ve never gone through this before.” Meanwhile, investigators have reportedly reviewed firearm purchases tied to nearly two dozen individuals. Tips are flooding in. The FBI previously raised its own reward to $100,000 — before this anonymous boost doubled it. And then there’s the theory that’s raising eyebrows: a veteran private investigator now believes a cartel may be involved — but not that she was taken across the border. He points to the suspect’s behavior on camera, the backpack, even the holster. He believes she may still be somewhere north of Tucson. Authorities have not confirmed that theory. What we know: A missing grandmother. A masked figure on camera. No DNA match. $200,000 on the table.
DNA from the glove. DNA from inside the house. No hit in the FBI database. Now the community is on edge. Neighbors are installing cameras. A small vigil grows outside her home. One man who knew her from church said, “We’ve never gone through this before.” Meanwhile, investigators have reportedly reviewed firearm purchases tied to nearly two dozen individuals. Tips are flooding in. The FBI previously raised its own reward to $100,000 — before this anonymous boost doubled it. And then there’s the theory that’s raising eyebrows: a veteran private investigator now believes a cartel may be involved — but not that she was taken across the border. He points to the suspect’s behavior on camera, the backpack, even the holster. He believes she may still be somewhere north of Tucson. Authorities have not confirmed that theory. What we know: A missing grandmother. A masked figure on camera. No DNA match. $200,000 on the table.

Anonymous donation raises reward for help finding Nancy Guthrie to over $200,000 An anonymous donation to the Pima…

Scientists just discovered they can detect the Epstein-Barr virus using ordinary human genome sequencing data — the same data originally collected to study our own genes. And what they found could change how we understand cancer, autoimmune disease, and immune failure. Nearly 90–95% of adults worldwide carry EBV. It infects most people in childhood, then buries itself inside B cells for life. Quiet. Dormant. Untouchable. Until it isn’t. EBV has long been linked to cancers like Hodgkin’s lymphoma and autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis. But one major mystery remained: how much virus is actually circulating in the blood — and why does it spike in some people?
Scientists just discovered they can detect the Epstein-Barr virus using ordinary human genome sequencing data — the same data originally collected to study our own genes. And what they found could change how we understand cancer, autoimmune disease, and immune failure. Nearly 90–95% of adults worldwide carry EBV. It infects most people in childhood, then buries itself inside B cells for life. Quiet. Dormant. Untouchable. Until it isn’t. EBV has long been linked to cancers like Hodgkin’s lymphoma and autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis. But one major mystery remained: how much virus is actually circulating in the blood — and why does it spike in some people?

New method estimates Epstein-Barr virus in blood using standard genome sequencing data This electron microscopic image of two…

“You have no proof she’s not alive,” Nanos said. And he insists this is still a rescue mission — not a recovery. Then he spoke directly to whoever knows where she is. “Take her to a park. Take her to a hospital. Just let her go. It will work out better for you in the long run.” Seventeen days. No confirmed suspect. A glove with unknown male DNA. A pacemaker that went silent. And a family waiting.
“You have no proof she’s not alive,” Nanos said. And he insists this is still a rescue mission — not a recovery. Then he spoke directly to whoever knows where she is. “Take her to a park. Take her to a hospital. Just let her go. It will work out better for you in the long run.” Seventeen days. No confirmed suspect. A glove with unknown male DNA. A pacemaker that went silent. And a family waiting.

‘Just let her go’: Sheriff issues plea to suspect in Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos…

It starts so ordinary. An invite that says “siblings welcome.” Organic snacks. No nuts, no gluten. Kids laughing, balloons popping, sunlight pouring through the windows. One child has a mild cold. No one thinks twice. But measles doesn’t need drama to spread. It lingers in the air for hours. It infects up to 90% of the unvaccinated. And it moves silently at first. A week later, her daughter has a fever. Then a cough. Then a rash. She Googles. Posts in a mom group. Hopes it’s chicken pox. Hopes it’s the flu. By the time the pediatrician meets them in the parking lot wearing an N95 mask, it’s too late to pretend. Oxygen levels are low. Crackling in the lungs. An emergency room. Isolation. Pneumonia.
It starts so ordinary. An invite that says “siblings welcome.” Organic snacks. No nuts, no gluten. Kids laughing, balloons popping, sunlight pouring through the windows. One child has a mild cold. No one thinks twice. But measles doesn’t need drama to spread. It lingers in the air for hours. It infects up to 90% of the unvaccinated. And it moves silently at first. A week later, her daughter has a fever. Then a cough. Then a rash. She Googles. Posts in a mom group. Hopes it’s chicken pox. Hopes it’s the flu. By the time the pediatrician meets them in the parking lot wearing an N95 mask, it’s too late to pretend. Oxygen levels are low. Crackling in the lungs. An emergency room. Isolation. Pneumonia.

Illustration by The Atlantic The birthday-party invitation said “siblings welcome,” which means you can bring your 11-month-old son while…