During the recently concluded 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Alysa Liu accomplished something absolutely remarkable: a win for the U.S. in Women’s Figure Skating for the first time in 24 years. However, she represents so much more than gold medals and triple axels.
At the age of 5, Alysa donned her skates for the first time. Her father thought of it as a good way for her to expend energy, but over time, it grew from a hobby to a career. At 13 years old, she became the youngest U.S. Women’s champion, amongst many other feats. Back in 2022, she competed at the Beijing Olympics and helped the U.S. team win a bronze medal. However, behind the curtain, she was feeling the pressure.
Training for any Olympic sport can take a heavy toll on participants. Alysa is no exception. After competing in Beijing, Alysa announced that she would be retiring from figure skating as a whole. It was a shock to many, as she had only been 16 at the time of the announcement. Because she was so devoted to her craft, she wasn’t able to really have a normal childhood. This, along with burnout and trauma related to the strict constraints she operated under, caused her to step away from the ice. Obviously, that isn’t the end of her story, as her competitive spark reignited in 2024 and gave her the drive to conquer the ice on her own terms.
“I get to pick my own program music. I get to help with the creative process of the program. If I feel like I’m skating too much, I’ll back down. If I feel I’m not skating enough, I’ll ramp it up. No one’s gonna starve me – tell me what I can and can’t eat.”
Alysa Liu, 60 Minutes Interview
Not only has she gained notoriety for her talents, but she has showcased a freedom of expression not often so outwardly displayed by Olympian athletes. Her signature ‘halo’ hairstyle and her inner lip piercing have received attention on their own for being out of the norm. Luckily, the attention has been positive, seeing as it’s an exercise of her cheerful and bubbly energy. Additionally, her tastes in music and entertainment have also been a topic of discussion. Her gala performance to PinkPantheress’s Stateside has gone viral and for good reason: she looks like she’s having the time of her life out there! While the victories secured by Olympic athletes are no small feat, it is refreshing for the audience to witness a true display of joy and fun in such a competitive space.
Alysa Liu embodies something that all of us should strive to achieve: confidence and freedom in being oneself and playing by one’s own rules. I am looking forward to all of her future endeavors, and I sincerely hope others will do the same.