Olympic champion Alyssa Liu’s story started out like many other elite skaters. It began with early mornings, intense training, and immense pressure from a young age. By 10, her skills already had her skating at a junior level. But as her talent took off, so did the expectations. She was told what to eat, what to wear, what music to skate to, and when to train. The rink became her whole world.
Liu’s talent took her far, allowing her to become the youngest U.S. women’s figure skating champion in history at the age of 13. Between 2019 and 2022 she earned five major international medals. At 16, she competed in the 2022 Beijing Olympics finishing 6th, but right after the games Liu made a shocking announcement over an instagram post. She informed the world that she was hanging up her skates for good.
All those medals might have seemed great but they just weren’t enough for Liu. She was unhappy. The joy that once fueled her skating passion had been replaced by pressure and obligation. Instead of choosing skating like she did her whole life, Liu felt that skating was no longer her choice and it was time to choose herself, instead.
Liu stepped away from competition and into a regular life. She got her drivers license, went to college and dyed her hair. She began to build an identity that didn’t surround skating.
But just a few years later a skiing trip changed something. Liu was suddenly hit with an adrenaline rush and was reminded why she fell in love with skating in the first place. She missed the thrill she felt when competing. This ultimately led to her return to competitive skating, but this time it was going to be different.
When Liu returned to competition in September 2024, it was on her terms. Under coach Phillip DiGuglielmo, training became collaborative. She chose her own music. She designed her own costumes. She controlled her schedule and workload. The pressure that once consumed her was replaced with joy and freedom.
Alyssa Liu’s comeback was historical. In 2025 she ended up winning the world championship, and ended a 24 year drought for American women. It didn’t end there though. Liu also captured gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics after delivering a near flawless free skate to Donna Summer’s “MacArthur Park”.. She earned a 150.20 in the free skate for a total score of 226.79, highlighted by strong technical elements including a triple axel. She became the first American woman to win an individual medal since Sasha Cohen in 2006 and also the first American gold medalist since Sarah Hughes in 2002.
This time, Liu wasn’t skating because she had to. She was skating because she chose to. That difference proved to be defining. With a world title and Olympic gold now to her name, Liu’s return demonstrates growth, independence, and a second chapter written on her own terms.
