THE ECHO

By Lauren Klein // Reporter

When Alysa Liu was in her early teens, she was already rewriting the possibilities of women’s skating. In 2019, at just 13, Liu became the youngest-ever U.S. women’s national champion. She was the 2020 World Junior bronze medalist, 2019-20 Junior Grand Prix Final silver medalist, two-time Junior Grand Prix champion, and 2018 U.S junior National champion.

But in the middle of the skating high, she left.

At just 16, Liu retired in April 2022 due to burnout following her seventh-place finish at the Beijing Olympics.

Liu longed for a normal life, a normal childhood after having skated since she was five.

Her retirement gave her the chance to climb Everest Base Camp, go to college at UCLA, and learn photography.

Once her friend suggested she return to skating on a ski trip, she promised to do it on her own terms.

Liu, no longer confined to the system, came back stronger.

Less than a year after her return, she won the women’s singles world title at the 2025 World Figure Skating Championships, the first since Kimmie Meissner in 2006.

Liu won two gold medals at the Olympics in Milan. And the people realized how suspiciously calm Liu skated under the Olympic pressure.

“I really don’t feel nervous. I don’t feel the pressure. Nothing holding me down or holding me back,” Liu said after her famous short program to Laufey’s “Promise”.

While others buckled under the Olympic pressure when it came time to the long program, Liu said, “I don’t need an Olympic gold medal to validate my decisions. I just made those decisions because I knew I had to, no matter the outcome.”

And her iconic, viral, new short program to “Stateside” by Zara Larson and Pinkpantheress has become a dance covering for-you pages of people copying her movements from her program.

She became the gen-z alt girl icon, with her famous halo hair, for all the years since her return to skating, her lip piercing that she calls “Smiley,” her chill vibe, and anime obsessions. She has arguably become the “Authentic Gen Z Icon” becoming a symbol for preforming for oneself rather than a system and allowing space between a hobby and a life.

“The Alysa Liu Effect” has gone viral on social media with people showing themselves returning to a hobby they have long retired from after being inspired by Liu.

Liu has reminded the world that taking a step back and finding space and balance in one’s life is important. And it can be helpful.

“Take those breaks. You need them,” Liu said. “And don’t let anyone push you past your breaking point. You are the only one that knows your limit.”