Alysa Liu become the first U.S. woman to win a world title since 2006, after having returned to international competition only last October, her first since winning a bronze medal at the 2022 World Championships.

After competing in the 2022 Beijing Olympics and winning a bronze medal at the World Championships that winter, 16-year-old Alysa Liu retired from ice skating, worn out from the sport. Turns out it was an extended break instead.

It was once prophesied how Alysa Liu would return glory to U.S. women’s figure skating. At 13 years old, she became the youngest woman to win the U.S. championships, back in 2019. A prodigy was born.