OlympicTalk · Jan 25, 2019
Alysa Liu makes history but wants to make more
Twenty-five seconds into her short program Thursday, Alysa Liu made history.
She was the first woman to land a triple Axel in the short program at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
Not bad for a 13-year-old making her senior debut at nationals.
And not enough for Liu. She wants to make more.
“She definitely wants to be the youngest champion,” said her coach, Laura Lipetsky. “That’s in the back of her head.”
It won’t be easy. Liu, second after the short program, likely will need another historic performance to overcome reigning champion Bradie Tennell, who takes a 2.71-point lead into Friday’s free skate.
But one would not be wise to discount the possibility of Liu pulling it off.