Figure skating: Liu defends U.S. title with flawless free skate

[January 25, 2020]  (Reuters) - Alysa Liu successfully defended her women's title at the U.S. Figure Staking Championships in North Carolina on Friday after the 14-year-old delivered a brilliant free skate routine.

Liu won by a runaway 10 points over Mariah Bell with a performance that stamped her as one of America's biggest hopes heading toward the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Liu, skating to Illumination by Jennifer Thomas, landed two triple Axels and a quad Lutz to impress the judges, who gave her a score of 160.12 for a 235.52 points total including the short program.

Bell finished second on 225.21 while Bradie Tennell, the 2018 champion who led after the short program, had a fall and dropped to third place.
 

"I didn't really expect any result, like first, second or third," said Liu. "I just wanted to skate a clean program, that's always my goal. I always want to do better than before."

Liu said she knew she needed a strong showing to surpass Bell.

"I was kind of inspired by her emotion and happiness. It inspired me at the end of my program to relaxed and be happy and aware of the moment."

Some of the biggest cheers of the night were reserved for Olympic bronze medalist Gracie Gold, competing in her first nationals for three years after dealing with depression and an eating disorder.

Alysa Liu poses withe her medal after winning the Senior Ladies Free Skate at Greensboro Coliseum Complex. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Gold, who finished 12th, received a standing ovation after her routine, and the 24-year-old wiped away tears as the crowd rose to their feet.

"I felt very emotional when the crowd stood up, and then they kept standing long after what that performance warranted," said Gold.

"I felt emotional before I even started because the sound the audience made. It was kind of strange. I've had excited cheers, but never the full arena pulling for my existence on the ice."

(Reporting by Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina; Editing by Peter Rutherford)

[© 2020 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]

Copyright 2020 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.  Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.