March is Women’s History Month: a time to honor and recognize the widespread accomplishments, achievements, and contributions of women and girls. This week, in honor of Women’s History Month, btw takes a closer look at Olympic Gold Medalist Alysa Liu, whose courageous story has inspired people around the world.
Who is Alysa Liu?
At the 2026 Winter Olympic games in Milan, Italy, Alysa Liu became the first U.S. woman to win a gold medal in singles figure skating since Sarah Hughes in 2002. She is also only the eighth female figure skater in history to win a gold medal for Team USA. But while she is a gifted athlete, Liu has become an icon for more than just her performance on the ice.
Doing Things Her Way
In 2022, Liu returned from competing in the Olympic Games in Beijing, China, and made a difficult decision. At just sixteen years old, she announced that she was retiring from figure skating. She had been training since she was five years old, and her whole life was centered around skating. She said that she had missed out on a regular, typical childhood because of all her years of intense training. Liu decided that it was time for her to live a more normal life.
When she made the decision to return to skating in 2024, she insisted on having more control over her performances. This included making her own costume, music, and choreography choices. In choosing songs for her routines, Liu picked ones that she liked but that she could also make her own. This year, she won her gold medal wearing a dress that she had chosen herself.
Becoming a Role Model
Once Liu was able to gain more control over her skating career, she grew to love it again. This was clear in her 2026 Gold medal performance, which was as mesmerizing for its joy and energy as it was for its triple loops, flips, and spins. This “comeback” story has also given Liu an intense connection with her fans. Her story of returning to an activity she loved, and doing it on her own terms, has inspired countless others to do the same and to share their stories on social media. Liu currently has about 7 million followers on her social media platforms. And all three songs that she used in her Olympic program have enjoyed huge jumps in streaming numbers, showing Liu’s widespread influence.
It can often be difficult for athletes at any level to be honest about their mental well-being. But Liu is widely praised for being honest about her story, and for prioritizing her mental health over her sport. She says that she hopes her success will help raise awareness about mental health, especially in sports, and that others will be motivated by her to give themselves grace or to seek help for problems that are too big for them to deal with alone.
What’s Next?
Looking ahead, Liu will be very busy, She will be attending the world skating competition in Prague in late March. Just four days after that, she will begin the Stars on Ice U.S. tour, with 26 shows in just over six weeks. It also seems like Liu has no plans to retire from skating again anytime soon. When asked if she thinks she’ll compete at the 2030 French Alps Olympics, Liu said that she likes France and would like to compete.