Stellato-Dudek, a 2000 World Junior Championships silver medalist in singles for the U.S., spent 15 years in retirement before returning in pairs and then switching to Canada. Last year, she became at age 40 the oldest female figure skater to win a world title in any of the four disciplines.

After the Americans' showing Friday, for the first time since 2002, when Michelle Kwan was reigning world champ, an American woman will be favored going into the Olympic Games.

Alysa Liu won the women's figure skating world title on Friday, delivering a dazzling free skate to edge three-time defending champion Kaori Sakamoto of Japan.Liu, who walked away from the sport in 2022 at the age of 16 and returned just a year ago,