The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan marked Alysa Liu’s dazzling arrival on the world stage. While she first competed at the 2022 Beijing Games as a 16-year-old prodigy, this year she truly captured the spotlight, shining on and off the ice.
Her electrifying gold medal performance in the women’s singles event not only made history but also won her a legion of admirers, among them pop sensation Sabrina Carpenter.
What Sabrina Carpenter Said About Alysa Liu
Liu didn’t just win a gold medal in singles; she also played a crucial role in helping Team USA win the gold medal in the figure skating team event alongside other skaters like Ilia Malinin and Amber Glenn. Her gold medal in singles was actually the first U.S. women’s singles Olympic gold in 24 years, since Sarah Hughes in 2002, marking a historic performance.
In a recent interview with Perfect Magazine, Sabrina Carpenter was asked about what excites her about the future. She stated that the growing community of young people who go against the norm and keep art alive is what keeps her on her feet, and included Liu in that conversation.
“If you think about AI versus the people who are doing things practically and still learning how to play instruments, just keeping that art physically alive. I’ll tell you who I love also: that ice skater, Alysa [Liu].
“She gives me hope. I’ve felt so inspired by hearing her speak. I think there’s people like that who just feel so articulate, so self-assured, and aren’t looking at so many eyes on them as a reason to play it safe, but really a reason to just be exactly who they are. She’s a perfect example of that.”
Pop stars have a history of cheering on figure skaters. Before Amber Glenn’s short program in Milan, Madonna herself sent Glenn a heartfelt video message wishing her luck. Glenn, fittingly, skates to Madonna’s iconic hit, ‘Like A Prayer.’
Liu On What Success Means To Her
After her Olympic debut in Beijing, Liu stepped away from competition to reconnect with family and friends and to begin her studies in psychology at UCLA in fall 2023. Her return to the ice in 2024 was nothing short of triumphant, as she quickly re-established herself among the world’s elite figure skaters.
In an interview with Nike, Liu discussed what success means to her, saying that it’s about spending time with the people she loves and having new experiences. She added that she keeps coming back to the ‘YOLO’ (You Only Live Once) statement, which helps her make the most of life.
Liu is currently performing on the Stars On Ice Tour, headlining the tour alongside Ilia Malinin, Evan Bates, Amber Glenn, and Isabeau Levito, with U.S. stops from April 16 in Fort Myers, Florida, to May 31 in Southaven, Mississippi.
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