By: Maddie Schmidt
Over the last few weeks, my social media has been flooded with content from the 2026 Winter Olympics, as, I am sure, is true for most of us. One athlete, however, has stood out amongst the rest. Alysa Liu, a two-time Olympic figure skater and now Olympic gold medalist, made a huge comeback this year, and her story is creating a culture shift for athletes everywhere.
This year was Liu’s second time going to the Olympics. She made the U.S.A. Team and competed in the 2022 Olympics in Beijing at 16 years old, finishing in sixth place. Unexpectedly, she announced her retirement on Instagram shortly after.
In an interview with 60 Minutes, Liu described her reasoning for retiring from the sport at such a young age. She said that she didn’t feel in control of her life. She was told when to practice, what to wear, which music to skate to, and even what to eat. Skating had become a burden.
She was also under immense pressure from her father, Arthur Liu, who was heavily involved in her skating career. Liu emphasized this in her interview with 60 Minutes.
“It was basically his business; it wasn’t even really mine,” Liu said.
Liu took a two-year break from skating. However, in 2024, she decided to take to the rink again.
In an interview on the Live Kelly and Mark show, Liu spoke about how she became inspired to start skating again when she went on a ski trip with her friends. She said that the adrenaline of being on the cold slopes reminded her a lot of what it felt like to skate, and she realized that she missed that feeling.
According to her interview with 60 Minutes, Liu called up two previous coaches of hers, Phillip DiGuglielmo and Massimo Scali, and told them that not only did she want to skate again, but she also wanted to compete again.
This time, Liu was in charge. She explained in her 60 Minutes interview that she got to help with the creative process, decide when she took breaks and be in charge of her own diet. Her father was also not as involved in the training process, which gave her more freedom to be motivated on her own.
In an interview with TNT sports, Liu expressed that she benefited greatly from the break.
“Through retirement, I realized that I am a creative person and I have these ideas,” Liu said. “I came back to share all of my art. I love to dance, I love choreography and moving to music, and I do it on my own terms. No one tells me what to do, and I take breaks, even now. I think that’s the way to do it.”
In an interview with 60 Minutes, DiGuglielmo and Scali admitted that Liu being in charge made her a better skater.
Getting back into training was difficult for Liu, but she rose to the challenge. During her interview with 60 Minutes, she was asked about where her motivation comes from and if she needs anyone else to push her. She responded by saying that she enjoyed the difficulty of the sport.
“I love struggling, actually,” Liu said. “It makes me feel alive.”
Liu reiterated this in an interview with Teen Vogue.
“I love pushing myself,” Liu said. “There’s this thing called the aMCC in your brain, and it’s where you say willpower resides. I love doing stuff that I really don’t want to do, really hard things. I get a kick out of it, and that’s where I’m happy.”
In the weeks leading up to the 2026 Olympics, Liu was asked in her interview with 60 Minutes if she felt any pressure to take home a gold medal.
“No, actually I’m really excited,” Liu said. “My goal honestly is to just hype people up and give them an experience, whether its negative or positive. As long as people are feeling some strong emotions and anticipation, I’m fine with that.”
In the same interview, Liu explained that she feels more like an artist than an athlete.
“I view competitions more as a stage for performing,” Liu said.
When the 2026 Winter Olympics came around, Liu stole the spotlight. Her grace and joy for the sport were apparent on the ice, and she became the first American woman to win an individual Olympic figure skating gold medal in 24 years. She also received a second gold medal for winning the team event with the rest of the U.S.A Team.
Not only were people taken aback by her energy on the ice, but her positivity and clear love for the sport and the other athletes have also made Liu an unforgettable athlete.
In an interview with NBC after winning her gold medal, Liu was asked how she remained so calm during the warmups.
“On the ice is where I’m happiest,” Liu explained.
According to a feature on Alysa Liu done by TV Asahi, Liu said that she does not feel intimidated by the other figure skaters.
“I can’t bring myself to see other skaters as competition,” Liu said. “We’re all just independent artists.”
Liu’s outlook on winning and success has also been inspiring. In an interview with NBC, Liu explained that the medals aren’t the main takeaway for her.
“These are just materialistic,” Liu said. “The real prize is in the performance and the journey, and that goes for everyone who was out there skating.”
Liu’s story has sent a powerful message to her fellow athletes and to people who are searching for success. Her journey proved that athletes can be allowed to pause, reset, and protect their well-being, even at the peak in their careers. This goes for anyone who is feeling burnt out and like they have lost their motivation.
When Liu returned to figure skating in 2024, the biggest difference was control. Through her comeback, she established boundaries and found a way for skating to fit into her life, not to define her life. This will encourage athletes to seek ownership of their careers, rather than being managed like products.
Throughout her 2026 Olympic experience, Liu continually prioritized joy and her artistry over winning medals. She often referred to skating as art and expression, not just competition. This contrasts with the traditional mindset of elite sport where winning is the primary measure of value.
Liu’s mindset on competition has been inspiring, and her determination and charisma, not just her title as an Olympic Gold medalist, have been a beacon of pure triumph. Liu is a testament to what we can achieve when we let go of the outcome.
