Alysa Liu is once again back in the spotlight, contributing to Team USA's gold medal in the figure skating team event at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina. At the age of 20, Liu secured a crucial second-place finish in the women's short program on February 6, accumulating the points needed to propel the team to the top of the podium. She followed it up with a personal best of 76.59 in the women's individual short program, finishing third and keeping herself in medal contention heading into the free skate.
Liu's recent achievements are a full-circle moment. She took a break from competitive figure skating at the age of 16, finishing sixth in the Beijing Olympics four years ago. Liu is now back in the Olympic arena, more confident and already having a gold medal in the team event under her belt.
Who is Alysa Liu?
Born in Clovis, California, Liu quickly made a name for herself in the figure skating world. At the age of 13, Liu became the youngest champion in the nation, breaking Tara Lipinski's record. She also became the first woman in the nation to land three triple axels in a single competition. In the following year, Liu became the first woman in the nation to land a quadruple jump in competition.
Also Read | Who is Ilia Malinin? 'Quad God' figure skater eyes quadruple axel after achieving THIS amazing feat
Liu won the bronze medal in the 2022 World Championships, which preceded her retirement. She has also represented the US at the Beijing Olympics.
Liu is well-known for both her own personal style and her remarkable figure skating abilities. Liu's trademark halo haircut, which consists of blond hair rings framing the top of the head, has come to represent the skater. For the 2026 Winter Olympics, Liu has updated the iconic hairstyle, working with stylist Kelsey Miller to create a greater contrast between blonde and brunette. Liu also has a “smiley” piercing, which is a frenulum piercing done by herself.
“I do this every year. I add a stripe, so it's going to be like this for a year. Then next year, wintertime, like end of December, I do another ring,” Liu told NBC New York. “So this one I did at the end of 2023, then did another one in 2024 and 2025.”
Also Read | NFL star Rashee Rice sued by ex-girlfriend over 'severe and permanent injuries', abuse during pregnancy
Skating to her own rhythm
Liu’s comeback programs are a reflection of who she is as a person. Her music choice is “Promise” by Grammy-winning artist Laufey, who combines technicality with storytelling in her music. Beyond skating, Liu is also an advocate for immigrant rights outside the world of skating, speaking from her experience and heritage to assert that immigrants have rights.
Now competing again on her own terms, Liu’s return to the sport has put her in a position as one of the standout members of Team USA in Milano Cortina.
