Alysa Liu, the 20-year-old figure skating sensation, is one of the most talked-about athletes in the world right now. Before and immediately following her brilliant performances at the 2026 Winter Olympics, Liu became a social media sensation on both Instagram and TikTok after fans latched on to her unfiltered personality, distinctive style and clear love for her sport that she radiated during performances and posts alike. 

Liu began figure skating at just 5 years old, but her story is not as straightforward as many might think. She has always stood out amongst other skaters f0r her unique and open personality that resonates with younger viewers, especially those in Generation Z.

From her daring hairstyle to her frenulum “smiley” lip piercing, which she gave herself, Liu’s choice of expression paired with her undeniable talent in skating captured the attention of the entire nation during the Games. 

She began the 2026 Olympics with just 300,000 followers. After her gold medal performance, it shot up to over 8 million in just a few weeks. Her social media posts highlight her personability and seek to inspire her millions of young and impressionable fans. 

Alysa first made history when she unexpectedly retired from the Olympics in Beijing in 2022 at age 16, after winning her first bronze medal. 

In a 2022 interview with U.S. Figure Skating, Liu said that she had completed all her goals as a free skater.

“Now that I’m done, I can have more time to see my friends and family, which is honestly what I want more than anything right now,” Liu said. “I think I choose my friends and family over skating. At the same time, I feel like I did everything I wanted to do in skating. It feels not like a sacrifice – but more like I’m graduating.”

Her return to this year’s Winter Olympics served as a shock to all, given the finality of her 2022 retirement. Alysa had previously stated that she “lowkey hated skating” after her 11 years of non-stop practice. During her brief sabbatical from figure skating, she returned to a normal life. She attended the University of California, Los Angeles, to study psychology, describing her time at school as a much-needed break from the constant pressure of coaches and her father. 

Liu announced her return to skating in March 2024 and made her first appearance back in October 2024 at the Budapest Trophy. A skiing trip in early 2024 reportedly gave her a newfound sense of adrenaline and reignited her passion for skating. 

While other skaters held stone-cold expressions at the competition, Liu was smiling and laughing before her programs, challenging the stereotype of figure skaters as obsessive and unhealthy 

Liu experienced major changes in her life between the 2022 and 2026 Olympics. She grew seven inches and dealt with knee and leg injuries associated with competitive figure skating. When she returned, she brought with her a newfound sense of personal freedom. 

Liu chose her own music to skate to, including “Promise” by Laufey and “Stateside” by Pink Pantheress and Zara Larsson. She chose her own style, including her famous dyed hairstyle, which she got at Thirteenth & Washington Salon in downtown St. Louis. Stylist Kelsey Miller spent over five hours perfecting the blonde striped “raccoon tail” aesthetic just before the U.S. figure skating championships this January. 

Liu broke records upon her return and did so in style, becoming the first American woman in nearly 25 years to win an individual Olympic gold medal.

Liu’s story can serve as a reminder of the costs of operating at the highest level, and her return and recent success and serve as a valuable lesson to young fans across the country about the importance of prioritizing one’s mental health.