Alysa Liu stands as one of figure skating’s most remarkable stories — a prodigy turned retiree turned world champion. Here are 10 essential facts about the 20-year-old American sensation eyeing Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic gold.
1. Youngest U.S. women’s champion ever — at just 13
Liu shattered records at the 2019 U.S. Championships in Detroit, becoming the youngest women’s senior national champion in history at age 13 years, 8 months. She placed second in the short program before dominating the free skate, landing three triple Axels — the first U.S. woman to do so at nationals. The feat broke Tara Lipinski’s previous age record and marked her as a generational talent.
2. Back-to-back U.S. titles at 14 — first since Ashley Wagner
In 2020, Liu defended her title in Greensboro, becoming the first American woman to win consecutive senior nationals since Ashley Wagner (2012-13). She set a national scoring record of 235.52 points and became the first U.S. woman to land a quad Lutz at championships. At 14, Liu also joined Mirai Nagasu as the first to sweep junior and senior titles back-to-back.
3. First woman EVER to land quad Lutz + triple Axel in one program
During her 2019 junior Grand Prix USA win in Lake Placid, Liu made history as the first female skater worldwide to complete both a quadruple Lutz and triple Axel in the same program. She also notched the first ratified quad Lutz by an American woman and the first triple Axel-triple toe in a senior short program. These technical milestones redefined women’s jumping standards.
4. Shocking retirement at 16 after Worlds bronze
After earning bronze at the 2022 World Championships in Montpellier — the first U.S. women’s Worlds medal since Ashley Wagner’s 2016 silver — Liu stunned the sport by retiring at age 16 in April 2022. “I honestly never thought I’d accomplish as much as I did,” she said, enrolling at UCLA in fall 2023. The decision followed Beijing 2022’s sixth-place Olympic finish and Worlds success.
5. Epic comeback: World gold in 2025, first for U.S. woman in 19 years
Liu returned for the 2024-25 season and dominated, winning the 2025 World Championships in Boston — the first U.S. women’s world title since Kimmie Meissner in 2006. Her comeback path included second at U.S. Nationals, Grand Prix Final gold (2025-26), and four Challenger Series titles. She called it “improbable,” inspired by a skiing trip friend’s encouragement.
6. Olympic debut: 6th place in Beijing 2022
Liu’s senior international debut came at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, where she placed sixth — best among U.S. women — despite jumping challenges. The result qualified her for Worlds bronze weeks later, launching her senior medal haul.
7. Junior phenom: JGP Final silver, world junior bronze
As a junior, Liu won two straight JGP events (Lake Placid, Poland), took silver at the 2019-20 JGP Final behind Kamila Valieva, and bronze at 2020 Worlds Junior Championships. She led the 2021-22 ISU Challenger Series standings by nearly 40 points over Anastasia Gubanova.
8. Technical pioneer: Redefined women’s jumping
Liu pioneered jumps now standard: first American woman with quad Lutz (2019 Aurora Games), first with triple Axel-double toe at U.S. Nationals short program, and youngest with clean triple Axel internationally (2018 Asian Open, age 12). Her free skate records include highest TES (83.94, 2019 JGP Poland) and PCS (72.27, 2025 Worlds Team Trophy).
9. Life off ice: UCLA student, Everest Base Camp climber
During retirement, Liu climbed Mount Everest Base Camp (17,598 ft), pursued photography, and started at UCLA. She returned selectively choosing costumes, music and programs, embracing creative control post-hiatus. Liu credits the break for maturity fueling her world title.
10. Milano Cortina 2026 gold favorite
Now 20, Liu enters the 2026 Winter Olympics as America’s top medal hope, blending senior experience with prodigy technique. Her 2025-26 Grand Prix Final win, three GP medals and world gold position her for podium contention in Milano Cortina. CBS’s 60 Minutes profiled her “improbable comeback” ahead of the Games.
| Career Highlights | Achievement | Year(s) |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Champion | 2x | 2019, 2020 |
| World Champion | 1x | 2025 |
| World Bronze | 1x | 2022 |
| GP Final Champion | 1x | 2025-26 |
| Olympics | 6th | 2022 |
| JGP Wins | 2x | 2019 |
From 13-year-old phenom to world champion comeback queen, Alysa Liu’s journey captivates — technical wizardry, resilience and maturity positioning her for Olympic immortality.
