Alysa Liu shocked the figure skating world in 2022 when she announced her retirement at the age of 16. Fresh off her Winter Olympics debut in Beijing and seemingly entering the peak of her career, Liu decided to walk away from the sport entirely.
At that point, Liu had fallen out of love with figure skating. She started at such a young age — she was just 5 when it all began — and after 11 years of intense training and competition, the teenager was burned out.
Liu came out of retirement in 2024, two years after she decided to turn her back on the sport. She worked her way back to the top, eventually winning the 2025 World Figure Skating Championships.
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The 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics were Liu’s second Winter Games stint. This time around, she came home with two gold medals around her neck. She helped lead Team USA to a first-place finish in the team event before bagging gold again in the individual competition.
Liu went on the “Today” show on Monday — the latest in a string of major public appearances. During her interview, the 20-year-old provided sound advice for parents who force their kids into sports. Liu issued a defiant message.
"Don't," she said. "It does not work. The kid knows himself pretty well, and it's just never good to force anything."
Liu’s father, Arthur Liu, played a pivotal role in her career. By his own admission, Arthur Liu knows that he pushed his daughter too hard. He previously conceded that he “made a mistake” by sending his 16-year-old daughter to live alone in Colorado Springs to focus on her training.
Alysa Liu got homesick and felt alone, which played a pivotal role in her decision to retire months later. She speaks from experience when she tells parents not to force their kids into anything — not just sports.
Liu has no regrets about her two-year hiatus. In fact, she strongly believes it is something that could benefit others who may find themselves in a similar situation to hers.
"If it's really such a struggle, I would say definitely take that break,” she advised. “Don't be scared to do that. Don't be scared of failure. Trying new things will definitely give you a different outcome."