Alysa Liu is rewriting the rules of figure skating, and her journey is nothing short of inspiring. But here’s where it gets controversial: is her focus on personal fulfillment over judges’ scores the key to her success, or a risky gamble in the high-stakes world of Olympic competition? Let’s dive in.
Over the past two seasons, Alysa Liu has redefined her approach to figure skating, finding joy in performing for the audience rather than solely for the judges who determine her rankings. This shift became even more meaningful during the 2026 Olympic short program, where her four younger siblings—who had never seen her skate live before—were among the spectators. Spotting them in the crowd alongside her father and best friend during her six-minute warmup, Liu felt an overwhelming sense of joy. She even directed her performance toward them during her double Axel jump and footwork sequence.
‘I performed to the people, and since they were right there, I performed specifically for them,’ Liu shared. ‘It was such a special moment.’
Unbothered by the notion that her focus might have strayed from her technical execution, Liu embraced her new mindset—Alysa 2.0. This updated version of herself seems to revel in every moment, fully in control of her journey. Her performance that night was nearly flawless, with only one minor technical error, and brimming with the passion she’s poured into her autobiographical short program set to Laufey’s ‘Promise.’ The song’s lyrics mirror Liu’s own story of trying to distance herself from her past relationship with figure skating—a connection so deep that she tears up every time the program ends.
‘Today, I connected with my program on a level I haven’t felt all season,’ Liu revealed.
Her performance earned her a season-high score of 76.59 for the Laufey program, placing her third behind Japan’s Ami Nakai (78.71) and Kaori Sakamoto (77.23) heading into the free skate final. Meanwhile, Isabeau Levito of the U.S. finished eighth, visibly disappointed with her score of 70.84 despite only minor mistakes. Amber Glenn, a three-time U.S. champion, started strong with a flawless triple Axel but fell out of contention after executing a double jump instead of a required triple, landing her in 13th place with 67.39.
Among the three U.S. skaters, Liu appears to be the strongest medal contender—a position the U.S. hasn’t held in Olympic women’s singles in two decades. Yet, Liu remains remarkably unfazed by the pressure. ‘I don’t know what it is, but I don’t feel nervous or pressured,’ she said. ‘I embrace it all. No matter what happens, it’s a story—my story.’
And this is the part most people miss: Liu’s journey is far more than just a quest for Olympic gold. At 13, she became the youngest U.S. women’s champion in history, repeating her victory in 2020. But after battling injuries and the constraints of her father’s rigid plan for her life, she retired at 16 to pursue a ‘normal’ teenage life—attending UCLA and even hiking to Mount Everest base camp. Her return to skating came after a ski trip reignited her love for sports, and she reclaimed her place on the ice with her former coaches, Phillip DiGuglielmo and Massimo Scali. Astonishingly, she won the 2025 world title with two dominant performances.
‘The past four years have been insane,’ Liu reflected.
What sets Liu apart is her preternatural calm and her view of herself as an artist, using the ice as her canvas. Her raccoon-striped hair, frenulum piercing, and frequent smiles showcase her individuality. Since her comeback in September 2024, she’s landed 210 jumps over 143 passes without a fall—a testament to her consistency, even if some jumps received negative grades.
‘She has this incredible ability to feel every aspect of the jump as it happens,’ DiGuglielmo explained. ‘She makes technical adjustments without letting judgment get in the way. She’s fully in the moment.’
Her Olympic short program included a triple Lutz-triple loop combination—the most challenging and valuable attempted by any of the 29 competitors. Though the loop fell slightly short of three rotations, it still scored just .03 less than the event’s highest-scored combination.
‘She was amazing—calm, focused, and present,’ Scali said. ‘She’s embracing this experience 100%, and it’s beautiful to see her so happy.’
Liu already has a gold medal from the team event, but overtaking Kaori Sakamoto, a three-time world champion, in the free skate will be no small feat. When asked if she feels she can beat the Japanese competitors, Liu replied, ‘I don’t think about that. My goal is to perform my programs and share my story. I don’t need to be above or below anyone to do that.’
Here’s the thought-provoking question: In a sport where technical precision often overshadows personal expression, is Alysa Liu’s approach a revolutionary model for future athletes, or a one-of-a-kind exception? Share your thoughts in the comments—let’s spark a discussion!
