The late Donna Summer’s music has surged on Spotify after Alysa Liu won Olympic gold in women’s singles on Thursday.
Liu’s gold-winning program featured Summer’s 1978 track “MacArthur Park Suite”, sending streams of the song up 1,292% in just 24 hours. The single version jumped 822%. Meanwhile, Japanese skater Mone Chiba, who finished fourth, also boosted Summer’s “Last Dance”, which saw a 117% increase.
Liu’s victory gave the US its first women’s singles Olympic gold in figure skating since 2002 and its first medal in the discipline since 2006. She beat Japanese favorites Kaori Sakamoto and Ami Nakai, showcasing both technical skill and expressive performance.
The win marked a remarkable comeback for Liu, who had retired at 16 after placing sixth at the Beijing Olympics in 2022 due to burnout. A trip to the Himalayas reignited her passion for skating, and she returned on her own terms, choosing her own music, training schedule, and diet. She also won the 2025 world championship before the Olympics.
Beyond her gold medal, Liu earned praise for sportsmanship, warmly embracing bronze medalist Ami Nakai after the event. “Human connection is what I am all about,” Liu told TODAY, “I am an older sister and I carry it on with my teammates.”
Interestingly, Summer’s disco version of “MacArthur Park” is a cover of Jimmy Webb’s 1967 ballad, originally inspired by a breakup he experienced in Los Angeles’ MacArthur Park. Nearly 50 years later, the song is making waves again thanks to Liu’s skating.
The performance demonstrates the enduring power of music in sports, as Liu’s gold medal not only brought her personal triumph but also renewed global interest in a disco classic.
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