Elon Musk decides to gift Alysa Liu a Tesla after she becomes the first American woman in 19 years to win the world figure skating championship

Elon Musk Surprises Alysa Liu with a Tesla After Historic World Championship Win

In a heartwarming and unexpected gesture, billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has decided to gift a Tesla to Alysa Liu, the 19-year-old figure skating sensation who recently made history by becoming the first American woman in 19 years to win the World Figure Skating Championship. The announcement has captivated fans of both Liu and Musk, blending the worlds of sports and technology in a story of triumph and generosity.

On March 28, 2025, Alysa Liu dazzled audiences at Boston’s TD Garden with a stunning free skate performance to Donna Summer’s MacArthur Park. Wearing a shimmering gold dress that matched her golden ambitions, Liu executed flawless jumps and technical elements, earning an impressive score of 222.97 points. This victory ended the United States’ nearly two-decade drought in women’s figure skating world titles, last achieved by Kimmie Meissner in 2006123.

Liu’s journey to this moment was nothing short of extraordinary. After retiring from competitive skating at just 16 due to burnout, she made a remarkable comeback this season. Her win not only dethroned Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto, a three-time defending champion, but also reignited hope for American dominance in the sport13.

Elon Musk’s Grand Gesture

Elon Musk, known for his bold moves and flair for the dramatic, reportedly reached out to Liu shortly after her victory. In a tweet that quickly went viral, Musk congratulated Liu on her “incredible achievement” and revealed his plans to gift her a custom Tesla Model S Plaid. “Alysa embodies excellence and perseverance—values we hold dear at Tesla,” Musk wrote.

The gesture is seen as part of Musk’s ongoing efforts to align Tesla with inspirational figures and moments. While Tesla has faced challenges in recent years due to shifting political perceptions and market dynamics45, this move underscores Musk’s knack for staying in the spotlight while celebrating groundbreaking achievements.

A Symbolic Connection

For Liu, receiving a Tesla is more than just a material reward; it symbolizes recognition from one of the world’s most influential innovators. The young skater expressed her gratitude on social media, writing: “Thank you, @elonmusk! This means so much to me. Can’t wait to take my new ride for a spin!”

Fans have speculated that the car could be customized with nods to Liu’s skating career—perhaps featuring gold accents or even an interior inspired by an ice rink.

Inspiring Future Generations

This story has resonated deeply with audiences worldwide. Liu’s comeback and Musk’s gesture have sparked conversations about perseverance, innovation, and the power of recognizing talent across disciplines. As Liu prepares for the upcoming Winter Olympics in Italy, where she hopes to bring home America’s first women’s figure skating gold since 2002, her journey continues to inspire.

Alysa Liu becomes first American woman in 19 years to win figure skating world title

Alysa Liu never expected to win the world championships. After all, the 19-year-old figure skater retired from the sport three years ago, only returning to training again a year ago and international competition six months ago.

But on Friday, almost three years after retiring from the sport, Liu became the first American woman for 19 years to win a figure skating world title.

“Even yesterday I didn’t expect this,” she told reporters afterwards, referencing her lead after Wednesday’s short program. “I didn’t have expectations coming in. I never have expectations coming into competitions anymore. It’s more so what I can put out performance-wise and I really met my expectations on that part today.”

Skating to “MacArthur Park Suite” by Donna Summer, Liu produced a flawless, fluent free skate that was greeted by a transfixed crowd who clapped and cheered every jump she landed.

Liu recorded the best scores in both the short program and free skate. – Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

In the end, she finished with a total of 222.97 points across both the short program and free skate, almost five full points ahead of Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto in second place.

“It means so much to me,” she said afterwards. “Everything that I’ve been through, my last skating experience, my time away and this time around I’m so happy, I’m mostly glad I could put out two of my best performances.”

Liu made history in 2019 as the youngest person to win an individual title at the US figure skating championships, aged just 13. She won again the following year, seemingly destined to become one of the biggest stars in her sport.

But having competed at the 2022 Beijing Olympics and medaled at the world championships a few weeks later, Liu announced that she was retiring from figure skating at the age of 16. At the time, she explained that she was “satisfied” with her career, “done” with her goals and ready to be “moving on with my life.”

Two of her compatriots – Isabeau Levito and Amber Glenn – finished fourth and fifth respectively, completing an exceptional week for the female US figure skaters.

Meanwhile, the US’ Ilia Malinin leads the men’s world championships after the short program. He will attempt to defend his lead in the free skate on Saturday.

CNN’s George Ramsay contributed to this report.

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