Figure skater Alysa Liu nearly saw her Met Gala moment spoiled on Monday night when a protestor attempted to jump the fence and break into the event directly in front of her. The 20-year-old Olympic hero was striking a pose for cameras on the red carpet at the Metropolitan Museum of Art when the chaotic scenes unfolded.
Viral Video Captures the Incident
In a video that has gone viral on social media, Liu appeared shocked and disturbed as the commotion began, remaining frozen in place while the man tried to enter. Footage showed the man attempting to hurdle the fence and run onto the red carpet before police intervened and tackled him to the ground. As the video circulated online, fans noted Liu's 'petrified' expression as she tried to keep cool in front of the sea of cameras.
Thankfully, the disturbance did not cause further issues for the figure skater, and Liu was able to regain her composure and strike a pose on the red carpet.
Liu's Stunning Outfit
For the night, Liu opted for a ruffled burgundy dress by Louis Vuitton, paired with matching heels, a diamond choker, and her signature blond-and-brown hair. The 20-year-old, who captured the nation's heart at the Winter Olympics, stepped out just hours after announcing her new partnership with the fashion designer.
'I'm so honored to be able to be part of something so artistic,' said Liu. 'I'm just glad that I'm able to connect with people of all kinds. In my figure skating, I have to perform and connect with people. I think that life is all about connection and bringing people together.'
Liu's Historic Career
The 20-year-old made history at the Milan-Cortina Games by becoming the first American woman in 24 years to claim an individual gold in figure skating. Less than four years after briefly retiring from the sport, the double gold-medal triumph in Italy marked the pinnacle of her career. At just 13, Liu became the youngest US national champion in history before competing at the 2022 Beijing Olympics at age 16. After winning a World Championship bronze later that year, the California-born star abruptly quit figure skating in 2022.
She eventually returned to competition in 2024 and claimed victory at the World Championship just one year later, before picking up two gold medals in Italy.
Other Olympians at the Met Gala
Liu was not the only Winter Olympian turning heads on Monday night. Fellow US star Lindsey Vonn also made an appearance on the red carpet, taking her first steps without crutches since her horrific Olympics crash. Though her beaded white mermaid gown—which took 4,000 hours to make—caught attention, the most striking aspect was the lack of crutches. Dressed by Thom Browne, the American fashion house even designed a custom cane for Vonn to use for the opulent occasion.
