Alysa Liu shows a quiet but fierce competitive streak.

Alysa Liu won the Olympic women's figure skating title in Milan, becoming the first American woman to do so in nearly 25 years, and both she and her coaches describe her as intensely competitive with herself rather than with others.

Alysa Liu won the Olympic individual women's figure skating title in Milan, ending a U.S. drought of nearly a quarter century for that event. She presents a cheerful public persona, but coaches and colleagues say she channels a strong inner drive and tests herself in small and large ways. Liu left the sport in 2022 and returned in early 2024, working closely with coach Phillip DiGuglielmo and choreographer Massimo Scali. Her recent streak includes the 2025 World Championship win and the Olympic gold reported here. What is known: - Liu won the Olympic individual women's title in Milan and is the first American woman to do so in nearly 25 years. - She describes herself as "competitive with myself," and her coaches say she treats challenges as opportunities to perform under pressure. - Small habits have illustrated that drive: a reported insistence on landing jumps during a heart-rate test and a habit of making sure a tissue lands in a wastebasket at practice. - Her long-time coaches are Phillip DiGuglielmo and Massimo Scali, who worked with her before her 2022 break and again after her 2024 return. - After her winning free skate, she reacted strongly on the ice, telling a cameraman that the performance was exactly what she wanted. Summary: Her Olympic victory marks a notable moment for U.S. women's skating and highlights a competitive approach she and her team describe as inward-focused rather than outwardly aggressive. Undetermined at this time