Alysa Liu: The Girl Who Dared To Dream
This Olympic, World, and national champion is changing the narrative for athletes and artists alike. Her raw skill on the ice is undeniable, but one could argue that it is her pure passion for her craft that touched the hearts of many across the globe. Her unwavering commitment to being herself is actively pushing the boundaries of figure skating and of “grind” culture as a whole. However, to understand her influence, it is important to look at her past.
Retirement
By the time she turned 13, Liu became the youngest-ever U.S. national champion and continued to break records and win numerous championships. However, skating constrained her life in a way that became suffocating. Her diet, weight, and physical appearance were always watched closely, and the lack of freedom eventually made her resentful of the sport.
In 2022, the ice skater announced on Instagram that she would retire after 11 years of a grueling yet rewarding career. She expressed that she was “moving on with (her) life” and simply wanted to have normal teenage experiences. And she did! She enrolled at UCLA to study psychology, climbed Mount Everest, and got her driver’s license. But everything changed in January 2024 when she went skiing and felt the rush of the sport and started reminiscing again.
Everyone told her that making a comeback would be a bad idea. Her coaches insisted that her body wasn’t used to the constant training anymore, but Liu proved that she had the discipline to get back on track and could do it on her own terms. But what made her so different?
Passion, Obsession, and Stoicism
Many Olympians/athletes have let their obsession with winning take over their love for the sport, but not Alysa Liu. The joy that radiates from her performance reaches through the screen and captures the hearts of ice skating fans and casual viewers. The Olympics are just another stage for her to perform on – and she has stated in many interviews that her focus isn’t winning:
“These titles are huge, but I don’t want them to overshadow who I am and what I do and what I am all about,” Liu said. “Winning isn’t all that, and neither is losing.” (NBC Olympics).
The secret behind her mindset is her stoic attitude. She focuses on what she can control (her performance, her music, her “look”), and not what she can’t control (winning/losing). Instead of getting lost in the competitive aspect, she does what she believes will make her more virtuous: developing meaningful relationships and focusing on her artistry. That’s why her friendship with fellow U.S.A. Women’s ice skating teammates Amber Glenn and Isabeau Levito is so special. The rivalry between athletes has always been part of the show, whether or not it’s on the playing field, as in the case of Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan. Still, Liu’s actions prove that camaraderie is possible. She was seen jumping with joy after stepping on the podium and hugging the silver and bronze medalists, Kaori Sakamoto and Ami Nakai.
Her passion for fashion, skating, and other hobbies all bleed into one another, as she considers every part of her performance part of her artistry, including her look. She breaks the stereotype of the strict “clean girl” aesthetic imposed on female ice skaters by showing off an alternative aesthetic. In the many pictures of her smiling widely, the smiley piercing that she pierced herself at home shines through, “(g)etting pierced at a shop is really expensive for no reason,” she said, “so I thought I’d learn it myself, be a little DIY-girl” (In The Loop Podcast). And, of course, her iconic “halo” hair done by St. Louis hairstylist Kelsey Miller makes her stand out even more. Each year, she adds a new ring to her hair, inspired by the rings that trees get for every year of their life. Her bold creativity inspires others and makes her a symbol for unrepresented communities. In a time where all art forms and diversity are being threatened, an alternative, half-white, half-asian, second-generation immigrant who raises awareness about mental health, becoming a symbol of hope for the new generation, is exactly what the people need.
“I like struggling, actually. It makes me feel alive.”
Sources:
- Paudice, Alessandra, “Alys Liu and her ‘I don’t give a dam’ aesthetic have captivated the world”, Vanity Fair, Feb. 22, 2026
- “Alysa Liu champion who can’t stop smiling”, NBC Olympics, 2026
- “Alysa Liu figure skating comeback winter olympics”, Cosmopolitan, 2026
