Alysa Liu
Olympic Champion
Biography
Alysa Liu is a history maker.
In 2019, she became the youngest U.S. figure skating champion in history at age thirteen. In 2020, she successfully defended her U.S. title with a national scoring record of 235.52. The phenom from Richmond, California became the first American woman to land three triple axel jumps at the 2019 U.S. Championships. At the 2020 U.S. Championships, Alysa became the first female skater to win back-to-back titles since 2013, where she was also the first U.S. female to land a quadruple lutz jump.
Alysa started skating when she was five years old. She quickly rose through the skating ranks, claiming the national intermediate title, placing fourth at the novice level and then winning the junior crown at the age of 12.
In August 2019, Alysa made her junior international competitive debut with a Grand Prix victory in Lake Placid. She became the first American woman to land a quad lutz in competition. Alysa also became the first woman in history to successfully complete a quad lutz and triple axel in the same program. One month later, Alysa won her second consecutive title in Gdansk, Poland. In December, Alysa earned a silver medal at the Junior Grand Prix Finals.
A consistent 2022 season - in which Alysa made her debut on the senior international circuit - helped her solidify her childhood dream of qualifying for the Olympics. Alysa was the youngest athlete named to the 2022 U.S. Olympic team. At the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, Alysa finished 6th overall.
At the 2022 World Figure Skating Championships, Alysa made her senior Worlds debut where she won the bronze medal. Alysa was the first U.S. woman to win a Worlds medal since Ashley Wagner took silver in 2016.
In April 2022, at the age of 16, Alysa unexpectedly announced her retirement from competitive skating. “I honestly never thought I would’ve accomplished as much as I did,” she continued. “I’m so happy. I feel so satisfied with how my skating career has gone.” Alysa enrolled at UCLA in the fall of 2023.
Two years later, with a renewed joy for figure skating, Alysa announced via Instagram her return to the sport. “It was good for me to take time off from skating, and I am beyond excited to begin skating again with my newly found perspective,” said Alysa.
At the 2025 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Alysa skated an emotional short program to "Promise” and the crowd in Wichita gave her a rousing standing ovation. She went on to earn a silver medal, missing out on gold by a narrow 1.46-point margin. Alysa’s remarkable performances recaptured the hearts of skating fans, and she earned a spot on the 2025 World Championship team.
Alysa is known for her bubbly and quirky personality and her love of music, dance, art, and photography. She is an advocate for body positivity and self-acceptance, using her platform to promote positive messages about self-image and self-love.
