Alysa Liu has dazzled fans this season, skating her way into the spotlight as a top contender for Olympic gold with Team USA. At the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Liu, Amber Glenn, and Isabeau Levito all secured their spots for the upcoming Milan Winter Olympics. Liu claimed the silver medal, while Glenn took home gold in the fiercely competitive women’s senior division.
This season, Liu has added to her growing legacy with a golden sweep at the 2025 Grand Prix Final in Nagoya, scoring an impressive 222.49, and another gold at the World Figure Skating Championships in Boston.
Alysa Liu On Different Thought Process Going Into Milan
Liu made her breakthrough in 2019 at age 13, becoming the youngest U.S. women’s figure skating national champion in history by winning gold at the U.S. Championships. She would go on to earn several other accolades and make her Olympic debut at the 2022 Beijing Games at the age of 16, establishing herself as one of the most exciting talents in the nation.
Following the 2022 Games and a bronze medal at that year’s World Championships, Liu took a break from figure skating due to personal reasons. In a recent interview on KSDK News, Liu revealed how the break helped her gain a new perspective: (2:48 onwards)
“I realized during my break that I loved all these things – arts, sports, dancing, music. When I stepped back on the ice, I thought, ‘I can apply all my interests to this,’ and I’d never seen figure skating that way before. So, my framework and perspective changed. Honestly, the first time back, I already felt better – also because I was still going through puberty at 16, so I wasn’t yet adjusting to a fully changed body.” she said.
Liu made her much-anticipated comeback in October 2024 at the Budapest Trophy, quickly reclaiming her place among the elite as she returned to the Grand Prix circuit.
Liu Speaks On What She Did During Her Break
In the conversation, Liu also discussed what she did during her break from the sport. Many questioned her decision to step away from figure skating, considering how she was climbing up the ladder in terms of ability. However, Liu was not deterred, and the break proved fruitful.
In the interview with KSDK News, she said: (1:35 onwards) “When I was gone, people were probably wondering why I did that. Well, I jumped right in after quitting – I wasted no time. I went to concerts, which I’d never done before. I got my driver’s license and drove myself, my siblings, and friends around. I completed a full year of college and part of my sophomore year. I went on my first vacation, then many more after that.” she said.
Now, Liu is focused on rest and recovery as she prepares for her highly anticipated return to the Olympic stage in Milan. The figure skating events will unfold from February 6 to 19.
