I have been a fan of figure skating for years. I am in no way a skater myself. I stepped on the ice rink once in my life and vowed never again because of how difficult it was. Due to my inability to balance on a blade that is a mere four millimeters thick, I have a deep appreciation for figure skating. My favorite skater to watch and support is Alysa Liu. After many trials and tribulations, she will compete for Team USA in the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and we should all root for her.
Alysa Liu first made headlines when she became the youngest woman champion at the U.S. National Figure Skating Championships at just 13 years old in 2019. Liu went on to win the U.S. Nationals again in 2020 and later represented the U.S. at the 2022 Beijing Olympics. On the outside, she was at her career peak.
However, just after winning bronze at the 2022 World Figure Skating Championships, Liu announced her retirement from competitive skating. She was only 16 years old. She attributed her desire to retire young to the fact that skating had taken up her entire life for years and that she wanted a typical teenage life — spending time with family, getting her driver’s license and applying to college.
Liu’s departure from the skating scene was bittersweet for me. Being close in age, I felt a connection to her, and I had followed her journey since she first won Worlds in 2019. Especially as a fellow Chinese American, it was inspiring to see her success at such a young age. Then, all of a sudden, in the middle of 2024, Liu announced she was coming out of retirement. I was excited to watch Liu’s new programs to see her newfound love for skating.
To me, Liu is the complete package of a skater. Not only is she an emotive artist, but she is an absolute athletic powerhouse. She combines delicacy and grace with complex triple-triple combinations and ultra-C elements. She emotionally moves audiences and executes some of the most difficult and dangerous jumps, all while making it look like a piece of cake.
Liu’s pure talent was on display when she took home gold at the 2025 World Figure Skating Championships, not even a year after announcing her return to the sport. She has had the comeback of the century.
I am extremely enthusiastic about Liu’s comeback because it is clear she really loves skating. Liu describes skating as a burden when she was younger because she had little control over any aspect of it. Now, as an adult, Liu trains on her own terms. She has complete creative freedom and control over her programs and training schedule. Even Liu’s coaches believe she is a better skater because she is now in charge. This independence allows her programs to reflect her personality and makes the whole experience more enjoyable for her.
Traditionally, figure skating emphasizes to young women that to be successful, they need to adhere to male-imposed standards of beauty, demeanor and physical appearance to be respected and scored well. This usually means limiting your movements to slow, balletic forms and using music that is sure to please the judges. Instead, Liu’s music, choreography and costumes reflect her edgy, sassy and playful personality. Her performances are original and speak directly to who she is; as a result, it is apparent that she is genuinely having fun and enjoying every moment.
This Olympic season, if you watch any event, it should be Women’s Single Skating just for Alysa Liu, but also to support the other two extremely talented American women in the discipline, Amber Glenn and Isabeau Levito. It has been 20 years since an American woman has podiumed in the Women’s Singles division, and I will be over-the-moon proud of Liu if she is on the podium.
No matter the outcome, Liu going to the Olympics a second time is a testament to her work ethic and the importance of being a well-rounded athlete. It also speaks to the power of being your authentic self and staying true to what you want. Everything from her dresses, to her music choices and to her iconic halo hairstyle is rooted in her identity and personal fashion sense. Watching Liu go against the grain and define her own standards inspires me to not give in to external pressure and to have fun with sports.
Keep your eyes peeled for Alysa Liu’s platinum dress, piercings and new Lady Gaga program at the Olympics. Her level-headed mindset and positive attitude towards a high-pressure competition are refreshing and reflect how content she is with herself and her career at the moment. Liu is unapologetically herself and is rewriting what it means to be an elite athlete. She shows us that you can be ranked among the highest in the world in your sport, yet still have a life outside of training and the spotlight.
Contact Anna Beatty at beatty@oxy.edu
