Alysa Liu: The Key to U.S. Women’s Figure Skating Medal Chances
Daily Review and Preview of the Milan-Cortina Olympics
As the Milan-Cortina Olympics approach the final stages, the U.S. faces dwindling medal opportunities, with hockey being the notable exception.
Among the various winter sports, women’s figure skating stands out as a significant competition that garners immense public interest. Historical names like John Curry, Victor Petrenko, Ilia Kulik, and Alexei Yagudin are often associated with men’s gold medal victories alongside legendary female champions such as Dorothy Hamill (1976), Kristi Yamaguchi (1992), Tara Lipinski (1998), and Sarah Hughes (2002).
This year, Taylor Swift joined the conversation, throwing her support behind the “Blade Angels”: Alysa Liu, Isabeau Levito, and Amber Glenn. Following the short program, Liu remains the only contender in the hunt for a medal, currently in third place. Japanese skaters occupy the top three positions, with Levito in eighth and Glenn in thirteenth after a significant misstep.
Despite the placements, Liu is only about two points shy of the top spot, keeping her hopes alive as she moves into the long program on Thursday.
The NBC figure skating analysts have received commendations for their insights. Lipinski and Johnny Weir excel at providing real-time analysis, while Scott Hamilton is a standout in-studio analyst. Fans are likely familiar with the phrase: “You can’t win a medal in the short program, but you can lose it.”
Favorite Moment of the Games
Among the emotionally charged moments of the Olympics, Elana Meyers Taylor’s gold medal win in women’s monobob stands out. A touching scene unfolded in the stands, where her husband, Nic Taylor, signed to their deaf son, Noah, explaining the significance of the moment. This poignant interaction showcased the profound impact of the achievements on their family.
Elsewhere on Tuesday
The day also saw notable events across various sports:
In men’s freestyle skiing, the U.S. had a commendable showing in the big air finals. Norway claimed gold, while U.S. athlete Mac Forehand secured silver. Troy Podmilsak and Konnor Ralph finished just off the podium in fourth and fifth place, respectively.
In biathlon, France delivered an upset, winning the men’s 4×7.5km relay, while the U.S. achieved its best-ever finish in this event, placing fifth.
Germany dominated the two-man bobsled event, securing all medal positions, with the U.S. team finishing fourth.
The U.S. women’s curling team improved their record to 5-2 following a decisive 10-3 victory over Denmark. However, the men faced defeats against China and Italy, each with 8-5 scores.
Norway continued its successful run, winning gold in the Nordic combined, while top U.S. finisher Niklas Malacinski placed thirteenth.
In speedskating, the U.S. narrowly missed gold in the men’s team pursuit, defeated by Italy in the finals after defeating China in the semifinals. The U.S. women’s team was eliminated in the semifinals and subsequently lost to Japan for bronze.
Best Thing to Watch on TV Today
The women’s slalom event is set to be a highlight today. All eyes will be on Mikaela Shiffrin, a previous gold medalist in 2014, as she competes in the first run at 1 a.m. PST, followed by the second run at 4:30 a.m. PST. Additionally, the rescheduled men’s and women’s slopestyle competitions could provide exciting outcomes, with Red Gerard returning to defend his gold medal. The U.S. men’s team will face Sweden in a critical knockout game at 12:10 p.m. PST.
Favorite Photo
Photographer Robert Gauthier, who is covering the Winter Olympics, captures significant moments daily. Editor Houston Mitchell will showcase a favorite image from Gauthier’s portfolio.
Wednesday’s Full Olympic TV and Streaming Schedule
Today’s broadcasts include a range of events across various platforms:
Alpine Skiing: Women’s slalom runs at 1 a.m. and 4:20 a.m. PST on USA.
Biathlon: Women’s 4×6-kilometer relay at 5:45 a.m. on Peacock.
Cross-Country Skiing: Men’s and women’s team sprint freestyle qualifying at 12:45 a.m. and finals at 2:45 a.m. PST on Peacock.
Curling: U.S. men’s and women’s round-robin matches beginning at 12:05 a.m. and 5:05 a.m. PST, respectively, on Peacock.
Freestyle Skiing: Women’s aerials final at 2:30 a.m. PST on USA.
Hockey: Men’s quarterfinals featuring the U.S. vs. Sweden at 12:10 p.m. PST on NBC.
In closing, viewers in the U.S. will have multiple opportunities to catch thrilling Olympic action throughout the day.
