Chinese-American Alysa Liu was a prodigy on ice, already competing at national levels by the age of seven. By 16, she was representing the United States at the 2022 Winter Olympics. Yet growing up under the sport’s rigid rules and expectations took its toll—and that same year, Liu chose to retire, disillusioned with competitive skating.
Two years later, she laced up her skates again—this time on her own terms, with a style that shattered the sport’s traditional “Ice Princess” mold.
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History Maker and an Artist
Being a prodigy is often tied to writing history and a collection of awards. At 13, she was the youngest skater to win two senior national titles. In the years that followed, Liu continued to make history through her technical repertoire—earning titles and redefining what was possible for American women’s skating.
After two years away, Liu rediscovered her love for skating and returned with renewed intention—soon finding herself back on the world stage. And she did, winning a world championship the next year. This Winter Olympics, she won gold in the free skate segment, ending the 20-year US figure skating drought——but medals were no longer the point. What mattered more was expression. She made it clear she wasn’t skating to meet expectations; she was skating to share her art, freely and honestly.
This time, Liu was in control—of her music, her costumes, her training, and her pace. She skated with agency, prioritizing joy and self-expression over expectation.
Halos, Piercings, and Chappell Roan on Ice
Figure skating has long been associated with polished femininity and classical elegance. Liu challenges that tradition with ease.
Her halo hairstyle—marked by a stripe added to her growing mane each year—has become her signature, a quiet rebellion against the sport’s traditional clean hairstyle. A smiley piercing glints when she grins, an uncommon sight in a discipline where “distractions” are often penalized.
On the ice, she favors black minidresses and patterned tights, often sketching her own designs and collaborating with designers who understand her vision. Off the ice, her style leans unapologetically Gen Z: graphic tees, chunky boots, and a confidence that seamlessly carries into her performances.
Her music choices reflect the same energy—bold, current, and personal: a Lady Gaga medley, Laufey’s “Promise,” Chappell Roan’s “HOT TO GO,” and her most recent performance at the Exhibition Gala, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson’s “Stateside.” Liu skates to what moves her, not what tradition dictates.
Every athlete has a complicated relationship with their sport. But as Alysa Liu takes to the ice—halo hair, pierced smile, and music that feels unmistakably now—she serves as a reminder that figure skating can evolve. That artistry matters. And that there is power in choosing joy, identity, and self-expression over perfection alone.
Keep up with Alysa Liu’s journey as she meshes her figure skating with artistry and expression.
Featured Image and Photos: US FIGURE SKATING, TODD OWYOUNG, ALYSA LIU (via Instagram)
Frequently Asked Questions
Alysa Liu embodies Gen Z values by prioritizing mental health, setting strict personal boundaries, and rejecting the toxic perfectionism and restrictive culture historically dominant within elite figure skating.
Alysa Liu secured her historic Olympic gold medal in the women’s singles event at the 2026 Winter Games, following an unprecedented two-year hiatus from competitive skating.
Alysa Liu performed her technically brilliant, gold-medal-winning long program to Donna Summer’s “MacArthur Park,” showcasing an upbeat, expressive style that broke traditional figure skating aesthetic norms.
Alysa Liu reclaimed autonomy over her career by choosing her own music, designing her costumes, and explicitly banning coaches and managers from controlling her dietary regimen or lifestyle.
Alysa Liu became the youngest women’s champion in U.S. Figure Skating history in January 2019, capturing the national title at the age of 13.
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