Alysa Liu: Our Gen Z Olympic Figure Skating Gold Medalist
Photo Credit: Matthew Stockman/ Getty Images
Did you get to see the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics this year? If so, which sports did you enjoy watching? Personally, I was tuned into figure skating because not only are the song choices amazing and the wardrobe always on point, but the performances themselves are always beautiful and gracefully done. One athlete in particular I was rooting for was Alysa Liu. I am so proud and ecstatic for her success as she secured two gold medals this year (the U.S. figure skating team event and the women’s individual singles event).
Alysa Liu is an extraordinary Chinese American performer who started at a very young age. Her father, Arthur Liu, introduced Alysa to figure skating at the age of 5. As she progressed, her immense talent was recognized. At the age of 13, Alysa became the youngest U.S. figure skating champion. Along with her accomplishment, she also became the first U.S. woman to land three triple axels in competition. When she was 16, she competed in the Beijing Winter Olympics, where she also announced her early retirement. Alysa mentioned feeling disconnected from her childhood because skating had been her only priority.
Photo Credit: Jamie Squire/Getty Images
After two years of living a “normal” teenage life, Alysa was determined to return to the ice. When she called her former coach, he was initially wary, because she was considered “out of shape” after not competing for two years. After establishing her comeback Alysa made sure that things would be different this time, allowing her to have artistic freedom in dance and music, stating, “no one’s going to starve me.” Through persistence and dedication she made an outstanding comeback in 2025, winning bronze and gold at the World Championships and winning gold at the Grand Prix Final. Now 20 years old, she has once again performed at the Winter Olympics, securing gold and becoming the first American woman to win Olympic Figure Skating Gold in 24 years!
What I find so inspiring about Alysa, beyond her accomplishments, is her overall perseverance and optimism. Even when people discouraged her from returning she made the impossible possible.
Alysa’s family background is just as inspiring, her father, Arthur Liu, is a Chinese immigrant who was forced to leave his country due to his involvement in the 1989 Tiananmen Square Protests. At 25, he migrated to the U.S., and settled down in the Bay Area. After earning his law degree and establishing his own practice at the age of 40, Arthur Liu decided to be a single parent and have Alysa and her 4 siblings through surrogacy. Alysa definitely has Arthur’s self-determination and drive to succeed against the odds.
Photo Credit: Andrzej Iwanczuk/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Alysa Liu is a prime representative of Gen Z. With her fiery determination, authenticity, bubbly personality, chronic online presence, piercing smile, and iconic hairstyle. I love how all of these characteristics are present in her performances.Alysa skates so nonchalantly and carefree that you can clearly tell she’s having fun on the ice. She even said, “I don’t need a medal, I just need to be here and show people what I can do.”
As I previously mentioned, her performances at the Winter Olympics this year were so iconic, especially with her song choices like “Promise” by Laufey, Donna Summer’s 1978 version of “MacArthur Park”, and “Stateside” by PinkPantheress featuring Zara Larsson at the Olympic Gala,Laufey and PinkPantheress have expressed their love, support, and appreciation to Alysa for using their music and representing them at the Olympics. Also, Alysa has great taste in her costumes, I mean can we talk about the blue dress she wore at the Gala? It was so vibrant and chic; I loved it.
Overall, Alysa Liu is a Gen Z icon and, without a doubt, an inspiration to others to live life to the fullest, be yourself without fear, and strive for the best even when the odds are against you. I can’t wait to see her skate in future events!
Strike Out,
Writer: Gabriella Gomez
Editor: Miranda Cardenas
Los Angeles