Who Is Alysa Liu? Meet the Olympic Skater Gliding Into Fans’ Hearts

Alysa Liu has ice skating fans spinning out at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Just four years after retiring from figure skating after competing in the 2022 Winter Olympics at age 16, she’s returned to competition, aiming for a gold medal in Milan.

Alysa returned to skating in March 2024 and quickly achieved her goal, winning gold at the 2025 World Championships. She secured the coveted medal in the team event on February 6th with a beautiful performance set to Laufey’s “Promise.”

Despite finishing second in the women’s singles short program to Kaori Sakamoto of Japan, Madison Chock and Evan Bates won first place in ice dance with a stunning performance. Following strong showings from Ilia Malinin in men’s singles and Ellie Kam and Daniel O’Shea in the pairs short program, the U.S. team ultimately surpassed Japan to claim the gold medal. Italy secured the bronze.

The skater is getting ready to compete in the women’s singles short program on February 17th and the free skate on February 19th, and she’s excited about the recent success of Team USA.

Oh my gosh, Alysa was on Today and she was just glowing! She said it’s been amazing being here, especially after how weird the Covid Olympics were. But honestly, the best part for her was being in the team event – she was practically begging them to have a team event at every competition from now on! She said it was SO much fun and she wants to be a part of it always. I totally get it, it sounds incredible!

Follow Team USA as they aim for gold at the 2026 Winter Games in Milano Cortina, and discover the inspiring story of ice skater Alysa!

What Events is Figure Skater Alysa Liu Competing in at Olympics 2026?

I’m so excited to watch Alysa compete! She’ll be skating with her team on February 9th, and then I can’t wait to see her individual performances – first in the women’s singles short program on February 17th, and then again during the free skate on February 19th. It’s going to be amazing!

Who is Figure Skater Alysa Liu?

Alysa Liu was born on August 8, 2005, in Clovis, California, and is the oldest of five children. Her parents are Arthur Liu and Yan Qingxin. She told Elle magazine that she started ice skating at age five, inspired by her father’s admiration for Michelle Kwan.

Just a year after taking up the sport, she was already competing. At age 13, she made history as the youngest national champion ever, surpassing the previous record set by Tara Lipinski in 1997. She continued her success by winning a bronze medal at the 2022 World Championships and finishing sixth at the Beijing Olympics.

She remembers graduating high school at just 15 years old. Everyone encouraged her to finish early, a year before the Olympics, so she could dedicate herself fully to training.

After her time in Beijing, Alysa announced her decision to retire from ice skating.

She shared in an Instagram post from April 2022 (which has since been deleted) that she had two goals in skating: to compete in the Olympics and to enjoy the experience with her friends and fellow skaters. Once she achieved those goals this year, she realized she didn’t want to continue skating.

Now that I’ve finished, I’m really looking forward to spending more time with the people I love – that’s what matters most to me right now,” she said. “I’m prioritizing my friends and family over skating, but it doesn’t feel like I’m giving anything up. It feels like I’m moving on to the next chapter, like graduating.”

Why Did Alysa Liu Retire From Figure Skating After the Winter Olympics 2022?

Alysa acknowledged her achievements with a sense of pride, but her experience with ice skating was complex. She told Elle magazine that she has very little memory of her early skating years, which she believes was due to significant trauma.

From a young age, when she first started skating, she remembered feeling like she had very little control over her own life.

She explained that she didn’t enjoy skating at the time because she lacked creative control – she wasn’t involved in designing her routines or costumes, and simply did what she was told. This extended to strict rules she’d faced since childhood, even controlling things like food and water intake due to concerns about weight.

As a long-time follower, I really saw how tough things got for her during the pandemic. She was already working so hard, but Covid just pushed her to the breaking point. It was heartbreaking to see her feeling so burnt out and isolated, even while training for something she loved.

Honestly, it was crazy. I was traveling constantly, always somewhere else, and it completely ruined figure skating for me. All I could think about was getting back to my normal life, being with my family and friends, and just…being a regular teenager. It sounds silly, but that’s all I ever wanted.

Honestly, I realized I was sacrificing so much of living for a skating career that just wasn’t fulfilling. It hit me that I didn’t have a real passion driving me, other than simply wanting to be comfortable and at home. It was a tough realization, but it freed me to pursue what I truly wanted.

With historic achievements under her belt, Alysa was ready to say goodbye to the ice rink.

What Was Alysa Liu Up to After Retiring From Figure Skating?

Once Alysa retired, she embraced a fulfilling new chapter. She went back to college, strengthened her friendships, and even achieved the incredible feat of hiking Mount Everest with her closest friend.

She told 60 Minutes that it was a really important period in her life. At 16, with college on the horizon, she felt full of potential and wanted to experience everything. She traveled to Nepal, trekking to Everest Base Camp, and spent a lot of time taking road trips with friends – she was truly enjoying life.

Why Did Alysa Liu Return to Figure Skating Ahead of the Winter Olympics 2026?

A ski trip to Lake Tahoe in January 2024 reminded her how much she loved skating and motivated her to start again.

Alysa told Cosmopolitan that after a year of school, a ski trip during winter break made her realize school wasn’t difficult enough to truly engage her. She started exploring other interests, like fashion, but hadn’t found a physical outlet until skating. She explained that skating gave her a reason to build strength and that she enjoys the discipline it requires.

For the athlete, her return felt right.

After winning gold in Milan, she explained to NBC LA that she acted on impulse. She said a ski trip two years ago reminded her how much she craved the thrill of competition, and that feeling motivated her to pursue this victory. She described the last two years as an amazing experience.

And this time around, she’s been choosing her outfits, skating routines and her schedule.

She told the Associated Press that she’s now spending a lot of time with her friends, even taking weekend trips to see them. She enjoys having the freedom to do what she wants, when she wants, and being able to manage her own schedule. She’s currently living at home and drives herself to practice.

Now, keep gliding down to see more moments from the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Lindsey Vonn, a U.S. skier, showed her determination while training on February 6th, just days after suffering a torn ACL in a crash.

On February 6th, Alysa Liu, representing the United States, performed a Biellmann spin during her short program in the women’s singles skating competition.

Jennifer Dodds of Team Great Britain looked intensely focused during the curling mixed doubles round robin match against South Korea on February 6th.

On February 6th, Snoop Dogg, who is working with NBC as an Olympics reporter, gave curling a try during a practice session.

On February 6th, figure skating partners Evan Bates and Madison Chock, who are also a couple in real life, delivered a flawless performance during their rhythm ice dance routine.

As a lifestyle expert, I was so inspired watching Laila Edwards make history! She’s the first Black woman to play hockey for the U.S. in the Olympics, and I saw her go head-to-head with Sara Cajanova of the Czech Republic during their game on February 5th. It was a truly momentous occasion!