Who Is Alysa Liu? 5 Things About the Figure Skating Champion
She began skating at the age of five!
by Firas Abboud
Published on Feb 22, 2026
In celebration of the 2026 Winter Olympics, one athlete has been making headlines all over the world—American figure skater Alysa Liu. The 20-year-old athlete took home the gold medal for both the women's singles and the team event, which made her the first American woman to win an individual medal since Sasha Cohen in 2006 and the first American gold medalist since Sarah Hughes in 2002.
Known for her creative moves, fun personality, and fabulous halo hairstyle, Alysa is lauded by the general public for her individuality and her Asian roots.
Who Is Alysa Liu? 5 Things About the Champion Figure Skater
1. She began skating at the age of five.
Born on August 8, 2005 in California, Alysa is a Leo. She is the oldest among five children. She began her skating journey at the age of 5, when her father—Arthur Liu—who is a fan of Michelle Kwan, brought her to a skating rink.
2. She is the youngest-ever US women's national champion.
In 2019, when she was just 13, Alysa became the youngest skater to win the US senior women's title. The following year, she garnered the distinction of being the youngest two-time women's US champion and the first woman in seven years to win back-to-back US championships.
3. She is a multi-awarded figure skater.
On top of her two gold medals from the 2026 Winter Olympics and two US National Champion wins, Alysa is a 2025-2026 Grand Prix Final World champion, 2025 World champion, 2022 World bronze medalist, two-time Grand Prix medalist, and four-time Challenger Series champion.
4. She retired in 2022.
When she was 16, Alysa took to Instagram to announce her retirement from figure skating, sharing that she was satisfied with her career. Two years later, in 2024, she posted on Instagram that she will be back to compete. Alysa revealed that her first ski experience made her miss being on the ice.
5. She was named one of Time Magazine's 100 Next.
In 2019, Alysa was named in the inaugural Time 100 Next under the Phenoms category. The Phenoms are rising stars and trailblazers who are experiencing rapid and extraordinary success early in their careers.
Firas is an eclectic millennial whose life revolves around beauty, books, and banter. He is guided by Joan Didion and Carrie Bradshaw.