While Alysa Liu embodied that in her seemingly effortlessly graceful routine, the silver and bronze medalists in Japan are representing two generations of skate in the Land of the Rising Sun. Silver medalist Kaori Sakamoto and bronze medalist Ami Nakai stood alongside Liu on the podium as a triumvirate.
It was a sweet moment away from the podium, however, that showed what the moment meant to gold and bronze. A clip was shared of Nakai jumping in excitement and Liu embracing her and hoisting her off the ground before just letting the moment take over and jumping for joy together.
The infectiousness of the smiles cuts both ways.
‘When I see other people smiling, I see them in the audience, I have to smile too,” Liu said after she won gold. ‘I have no poker face.”