Olympic Star Alysa Liu Declares Friends Come Before Skating Success
Winter Olympics sensation Alysa Liu has made a bold declaration about her life priorities, insisting she will always choose spending time with friends over her figure-skating career, even if it negatively affects her performance on the ice. The 20-year-old American athlete, who recently made history at the Milan-Cortina Games, maintains that her social life remains paramount despite her elite athletic achievements.
Historic Double Gold Medal Triumph in Italy
Last month, Liu achieved what no American woman had accomplished in 24 years, securing an individual gold medal in figure skating at the Olympic Games. Additionally, she played a crucial role in helping the United States team claim victory in the team event, earning her a second gold medal. This remarkable double triumph represents the absolute pinnacle of Liu's skating career thus far, especially considering she briefly retired from the sport less than four years ago.
The California-born star first captured national attention at just 13 years old when she became the youngest US national champion in history. She then competed at the 2022 Beijing Olympics at age 16 before winning a World Championship bronze medal later that year. After an abrupt retirement in 2022, Liu returned to competition in 2024, claiming victory at the World Championship just one year later, then achieving her Olympic double gold in 2026.
Unwavering Commitment to Social Life
Despite her expressed desire to compete at the 2030 Games in France, the Olympic champion has made it clear she will never sacrifice her personal relationships for skating glory. In a revealing interview with Teen Vogue, where she recently graced the cover, Liu stated unequivocally: 'I pick hanging out with my friends over a session, and if that makes me a worse skater, so be it. I don't care. I will jeopardize whatever.'
This philosophy extends to her mindset heading into this year's Olympic Games. Liu reflected: 'I would've been fine either way. I would've been loving life outside of skating just as much [as winning gold medals]. But yeah, I'm really happy with how my life is right now.'
Celebrating Victory with Friends and Rest
Following her historic victory, which ended America's lengthy 24-year wait for an individual women's figure skating gold medal, Liu embraced a well-deserved break from her rigorous training schedule. She recalled: 'After I won, [there] was no sleep… I went home and I literally did whatever I wanted for five days. I didn't have any media, and I had no commitments, so it was really great. I got to see a lot of my friends again, and just relax and catch up on sleep. I skated twice just because I wanted to.'
Just over a week after her incredible free skate performance, Liu experienced another memorable moment when she crossed paths with actor Daniel Radcliffe backstage at the Today show. The Harry Potter star was seen embracing Liu in a heartwarming encounter before they posed for a quick photograph. As they prepared for the picture, Liu offered Radcliffe the chance to try on one of her medals, but he respectfully declined, stating: 'No I can't wear it, I'll hold it. Wearing it feels like stolen valor.'
Radcliffe went on to compliment the figure skater, telling her that her gold medal-winning performance in Milan was 'the most joyful thing I've watched.' This celebrity encounter added to what has been an extraordinary period for the young athlete, who continues to balance Olympic success with maintaining her personal priorities and friendships.
