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The night of February 19 at the Milan Ice Skating Arena was a historic moment for Alysa Liu. After nearly six years away from competition, the American skater made her return to the podium with several crucial lessons learned; perhaps the most important being: protecting her identity.
To the rhythm of "MacArthur Park Suite," Liu delivered a routine that bordered on perfection, as evidenced by the judges' 150.20 points.
This score propelled her from third place after the short program to claim the gold medal, leaving Japan's Kaori Sakamoto and Ami Nakai with silver and bronze, respectively.
There was a time when Liu lost her passion for skating. Today, that love returned to take her to the top of the Olympic podium, with a renewed sense of identity.
Alysa has learned to protect herself
Liu started skating at the age of five, giving up things most children take for granted. This led to her early retirement at 16, seeking refuge in welcome anonymity.
That time away from the spotlight helped her understand something vital. "Protecting my identity is my main goal," Liu told Soham Kulkarni of Essentially Sports.
Recalling her early days in competitive skating, Alysa said:
I know exactly what it's like to not have that. So, my experience with it before has taught me how I should guard myself.
Much of what Liu did in the figure skating final at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Games was thanks to protecting her balance and mental health.
Liu tries to live a normal life
Despite the demands of high-performance sports, Alysa tries to lead a normal life. "I hang out with friends and family as much as possible," she told Essentially Sports.
"Being grounded is really what keeps me going. I love other hobbies, doing side quests; it keeps me curious," she said. "I'm protecting that."
That attitude has served her well in this Olympic cycle. Now, it remains to be seen how far it will take her in the years to come.