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Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu's advice for aspiring figure skaters
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Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu's advice for aspiring figure skaters

#Alysa Liu #Olympic gold medal #Figure skating #Winter Olympics 2026 #Sports advice #Mental wellness #Authenticity in sports #Career comeback

📌 Key Takeaways

  • Alysa Liu won Olympic gold in women's singles at age 20 after retiring at 16 and making a comeback
  • Liu advises aspiring skaters not to try to be 'the next me' but to be authentic to themselves
  • The champion emphasizes the importance of balance between hard work and rest for athletic success
  • Liu surrounds herself with supportive friends to maintain mental well-being and says no when necessary
  • She wouldn't change anything about her unconventional journey, valuing personal growth and experience

📖 Full Retelling

U.S. figure skater Alysa Liu, who stunned the skating world by retiring at age 16 before making a triumphant return, won Olympic gold in the women's singles event in Milan, Italy on February 15, 2026, and shared her advice for aspiring athletes in an interview with CBS News. The 20-year-old champion, who became the youngest U.S. women's champion at just 13 years old, admitted she doesn't feel nervous when she competes but focuses instead on the joy the sport brings her. Liu's journey to Olympic gold was unconventional; she placed sixth at her Olympic debut in Beijing in 2022 before shocking the figure skating community by retiring at 16, only to return to competition two years later. Liu revealed that her comeback wasn't about the medals but about rediscovering her passion for the sport. 'I wasn't planning to return to competition at this point,' she confessed in a January interview with '60 Minutes.' 'I just wanted quick hits of dopamine, basically.' After starting full-time training with coaches Massimo Scali and Phillip DiGuglielmo in June 2024, Liu made her way back to the top of the sport, crediting her success to finding balance between hard work and rest. 'I love working hard and pushing myself to the limit, but to do that, I need rest,' she emphasized, noting the importance of recognizing when to prioritize recovery. To maintain her mental well-being, Liu surrounds herself with supportive friends who keep her grounded and has learned to say no when necessary.

🏷️ Themes

Olympic achievement, Personal authenticity, Mental wellness in sports

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Alysa Liu

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American figure skater (born 2005)

Alysa Liu (born August 8, 2005) is an American figure skater. She is a 2026 Olympic Games team event gold medalist, the 2025 World champion, 2022 World bronze medalist, 2025–26 Grand Prix Final champion, a two-time Grand Prix medalist, a four-time Challenger Series champion, and a two-time U.S. nati...

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Figure skating

Figure skating

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Original Source
World Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu has advice for aspiring figure skaters: "Don't try to be the next me" By Jennifer Earl Jennifer Earl Vice President of Growth & Engagement at CBS News and Stations Jennifer Earl is the Vice President of Growth & Engagement at CBS News and Stations. Jennifer has previously written for outlets including The Daily Herald, The Gazette, NBC News, Newsday, Fox News and more. Read Full Bio Jennifer Earl Updated on: February 20, 2026 / 5:52 PM EST / CBS News Add CBS News on Google Milan, Italy — U.S. figure skater Alysa Liu smiled as she recalled the "so hype" crowd Thursday after winning Olympic gold in the women's singles event — a first for Team USA since 2002. "Just the energy in the arena. That's why I skate," Liu told "CBS Saturday Morning" co-host Kelly O'Grady in Milan, Italy, on Friday. The 20-year-old skater said she doesn't feel nervous when she slides onto the ice; instead, she focuses on the joy the sport brings her. To "protect peace," she surrounds herself with friends who keep her grounded. She says she has also learned to say no when necessary. Liu acknowledges that becoming an Olympic athlete requires a balance of hard work, dedication, and a genuine love for the sport. "I love working hard and pushing myself to the limit, but to do that, I need rest," Liu said, emphasizing the importance of recognizing when to prioritize recovery. She made history as the youngest U.S. women's champion at 13, then stunned the skating world by retiring at 16 following her 2022 Olympic debut in Beijing, where she placed sixth. But two years later, she got the itch to return to the ice. "I wasn't planning to return to competition at this point," she told "60 Minutes " in January. "I just wanted quick hits of dopamine, basically." In June 2024, Liu started training again full time with coaches Massimo Scali and Phillip DiGuglielmo . Her comeback wasn't about the hardware, but about the journey. "I hope [my story is] inspiring, and I hope i...
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