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Alysa Liu: From Olympic Retirement to Ice Skating Champion

KVIA•Friday, February 20, 2026 at 6:55 PM•CNN Newsource

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Alysa Liu, a prominent figure in women's figure skating, has made a remarkable comeback after a brief retirement. Born on August 8, 2005, in Clovis, California, she became the youngest national champion at just 13 years old in 2019, showcasing her technical prowess with multiple triple axels. After stepping back from competition in 2022 due to personal pressures and missing the Beijing Olympic team, Liu took time to rediscover herself, engaging in university studies and fashion design. Her return culminated in winning the World Championship in 2025 and an Olympic gold medal at the 2026 Winter Games in Milan-Cortina, where she performed an unprecedented program for a female athlete. Liu is also an advocate for mental health awareness, emphasizing the importance of therapy in her journey.

Key Details: • Alysa Liu was born on August 8, 2005, in Clovis, California. • She became the youngest U.S. national champion at 13 in 2019. • Liu won the World Championship in 2025, marking a 19-year U.S. gold drought. • At the 2026 Winter Olympics, she won gold with a groundbreaking program. • Liu advocates for mental health and the benefits of therapy.

sports mental-health olympics figure-skating youth-athletes

People & Organizations

Milan-CortinaAlysa LiuClovis, California

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