Alysa Liu is the American figure skating sensation who stunned the world by winning the women’s singles gold at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, ending a 24-year drought for the United States in the event.
The 20-year-old became the first U.S. woman to win individual gold since Sarah Hughes in 2002. Liu delivered a spellbinding free skate to “MacArthur Park” by Donna Summer, scoring 150.20 points for a total of 226.79 to finish ahead of Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto and Ami Nakai.
A teen prodigy who walked away
Born in 2005, Liu was once considered one of the brightest prodigies in women’s skating, making history as the youngest U.S. national champion at just 13. However, after finishing sixth at the Beijing 2022 Olympics, she shocked the skating world by retiring at 16, citing burnout and a desire to experience a normal teenage life.
Her break from the ice was far from ordinary. Among her adventures was a trek to Mount Everest Base Camp, a symbolic journey away from the spotlight that once defined her childhood.
A comeback few expected
Liu returned to professional competition in 2024, initially without grand expectations. Two years later, she entered the Olympic free skate in third place but produced what many called a “performance for the ages” to climb to the top of the podium. She had already added an Olympic team gold earlier in the Games.
Alysa Liu’s family background
Liu’s story is shaped by a unique personal background. Her father, Arthur Liu, fled China in 1989 after participating in the Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests. In 2022, the U.S. Justice Department revealed that the family had been targeted by a Chinese government intimidation operation linked to his political past.
Today, Liu balances elite sport with college life and has said she is happily single, prioritising her hectic schedule and close-knit circle of friends and family.