This February marked the XXV Winter Olympics, also known as the Milano Cortina 2026. It ran from February 6th to February 22nd, featuring 116 different ice and mountain sports. One of the most popular sports in the worldwide anticipated competition is its figure skating league.
Figure skating is a renowned sport with a long and fascinating history, praised for its fine artistic expression, raw athleticism, and precision. The 2026 gold medalist for figure skating was 20 year old California native, Alysa Liu, representing the United States. Liu ended a 24 year old streak of losses for the U.S., making her the first American gold medalist for figure skating since 2002, three years before she was even born.
Alysa Liu has gained a massive rise to fame since her win, recognizable for her unique bleached hair pattern, alternative fashion, rebellious piercings, and infectious smile. Liu began competing at a national level at age 7, and by age 12, was the youngest skater in history to land a ‘Triple Axel’ at an international competition. As a child prodigy, her main life goal was to make it to the Olympics, however, following her 6th placement in the Beijing Olympics in 2022, Liu made the decision to quit skating. She stated, “I’m only 16, I want to do other stuff”. Alysa Liu claims her hiatus was due to a loss of passion and burnout, which are topics she is very open and honest about. She is also an advocate for mental health, often speaking up about her ADHD, and how her brief hiatus was the healthiest thing she could have done for both her career and her well-being.
In 2025, Alysa Liu was back and better than ever, skating in the 2025 World Championship, then the Olympics in 2026. Liu’s historic comeback is one for the books, winning double gold in women’s singles and in the team event. Post her Olympic victory, Alysa Liu has massed over 8 million followers on instagram, appeared on the cover of Teen Vogue, embarked on a major media tour, presented ‘Artist of the Year’ at the iHeart Radio Music Awards to Taylor Swift, and now has a luxury brand deal with Nike.
Alysa Liu’s success is the result of passion and dedication for one’s craft, and the impact of one’s integrity. Liu’s image promotes nothing but the importance of individuality in character, displaying this through her outgoing personality on and off the ice. Ultimately, Alysa Liu is the perfect modern example for young girls all over the world to look up to, especially young athletes.
