American figure skater Alysa Liu is back to square one, at least for the Winter Olympics. Years ago, the American skater had retired from the sport, but only months after her Olympic debut didn’t go as planned.
Four years later, though, Liu is back in action, aiming for another shot at Olympic glory. The reigning world champion previously claimed a silver medal at the 2026 US Championships.
Alysa Liu Reveals Thoughts Ahead of Olympic Comeback
The 20-year-old figure skater recently opened up in an interview about her comeback attempt at the Milano Cortina Olympics.
“At 16, the experience felt overwhelming. I was focused on getting through each moment and placed a great deal of pressure on myself,” Liu said when asked about the difference between her debut attempt and her current attempt at Olympic glory.
“As I’ve grown, so has my skating. I approach each performance with greater intention and confidence, with the goal of giving people something they can genuinely feel. Beyond medals, I hope my skating reflects the idea that growth isn’t always linear. It’s possible to step away, evolve beyond sport and come back stronger, not just in results on a podium but as a person.”
READ MORE: Alysa Liu Takes to Olympic Ice for First Session Ahead of the 2026 Winter Games
For the uninitiated, Liu was 16 years old when she made her Olympic debut at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. However, not everything went as planned, and she finished in 7th place overall. She quit the sport for a while, citing burnout as the main cause. However, Liu couldn’t remain off track for long, as she further added,
“Taking time after the Beijing Olympics to be with my family and friends, and most importantly to spend time with myself, was incredibly vital for my overall well-being because it gave me the time to put myself first. Retiring gave me the chance to experience things I’d never really had time for before. Having the freedom to try new things, like going skiing for the first time, which ironically was the experience that made me realize how much I missed skating and that specific adrenaline rush.”
Liu returned to action with the 2025 Grand Prix Final, where she won a gold medal. Liu contributed to the World Team Trophy championship held in Tokyo. However, her crowning glory came at the 2025 World Championships, where the 20-year-old figure skater won the gold medal.
Liu clinched a second consecutive silver medal at the US Championships to grab one of three qualifying spots for the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.
