Alysa Liu Stuns the Ice-Skating World in 2026 Winter Olympics

On February 19, Alysa Liu became the first American woman to win a gold medal for the Olympics in 24 years, scoring a 15020 in the women’s individual skate. She debuted at the Olympics in Beijing in 2022, and returned this year to compete in Milan. Along with her skating, Liu has gained admiration and attention from media covering the 2026 Olympics because of her iconic look and strong sportsmanship. 

The 20-year- old skater has been skating since she was five, and has won countless medals and awards prior to her gold medal in the Olympics this year, such as a silver medal in the 2019–20 Junior Grand Prix Final and the 2018 U.S. junior national champion. She has been the first woman to win various awards, such as the youngest-ever U.S. women’s national champion in 2019 at age 13. 

Liu’s Return to Skating

One thing that makes Liu stand out so much is her work ethic. Many Olympic athletes have proved time and time again that the pressure is too much, but this does not apply to Liu. After quitting figure skating at 16 due to burnout, she has overcome her low moments by doing things her way, something that most Olympic athletes do not have the bravery to do. Although she retired to improve her mental health, her return proves to other Olympians as well as athletes in general that taking a step back is a powerful choice, and that her decisions emphasized the importance of athletes’ mental well-being. 

Her decision to return to the sport redefined her skating. This time, along with the technique and talent, the passion has returned. Now, she has explained how struggle in her sport doesn’t discourage her, rather it makes her feel more alive. This passion eventually led her to compete in her second Olympic competition this year in Milan. 

“Skating gave me something to be strong for. I love having willpower. I used to never care about programs, what you skated to, your dresses, stuff like that. Now, I love skating dresses and helping with the design process. This sport is kind of an outlet for me. I love dance and music, so it’s everything in one,” Liu said in an interview with Cosmopolitan. 

Liu’s Look

Along with her talent, her look also makes her stand out, essentially rewriting the rules for how the new generation of young Olympic athletes should look. She had a unique style that makes her skating stand out more than it already does. She sports a striped, raccoon-like hairstyle, with blinged-out silver jewelry, to complete the look. Even though coaches have expressed concern over her look being perceived negatively by judges and higher-ups, Liu has retaliated. 

“I said if they tell me to dye my hair back, I will quit. If they don’t like it and they want to give me less scores or treat me differently, that’s on them. If I change my hair, it’s gonna be because I wanted to,” Liu said to Cosmopolitan. 

Liu continued to impress judges even after her competitive skates at the Olympic Exhibition Gala, performing to PinkPanthress’ and Zara Larsson’s “Stateside”. Fans could see the joy and energy she embodied during her victory lap, celebrating her win at the prior competitions. Liu is expected to keep defying expectations as she continues her skating career, in the same way she dominated the 2026 Olympics: by embracing self-expression and individuality.