Bradie Tennell, the reigning champion, exuded confidence as she fielded questions during a press conference. Alysa Liu, at just 13 years old, also held her own at the conference, displaying a mix of humility and poise. Both Tennell and Liu joined each other at a press conference following the short program on Thursday night at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
Tennell currently holds the top spot as she vies for another championship, with Liu posing a strong challenge in second place. Tennell emphasized that she focused on enjoying her performance without allowing distracting thoughts to interfere. She executed a flawless skate, scoring 76.60 points, nearly three points ahead in the short program, a segment she won in 2018. It was evident that the talented US Junior champion had a promising future ahead.
Liu made history in August by becoming the first young woman to land a triple axel in an international competition. She scored 73.89 in Thursday’s program, demonstrating a mix of nerves and excitement stemming from her passion for the sport. She later joined Tennell and Mariah Bell, who holds third place.
