After one of the most remarkable return stories in the history of figure skating, Alysa Liu says that she “did not expect it”.
BOSTON – On April 9, 2022, Alysa Liu announced his retirement from figure skating. She was only 16 years old, but it strangely had a meaning. Every first morning, rigorous training, relentless pressure, the moments of her childhood that she lacked: it was time for her to do something else.
She had become the youngest American women’s champion at 13, then won the national title at 14. She was so tiny that the skaters she defeated had to attract her to the first step of the medal podium. At 16, she participated in the 2022 winter Olympic Games in Beijing, finishing sixth. She won the bronze medal at the 2022 world championships a month later, then shortly after, posted on Instagram that she had finished with sport.
“I will continue my life,” wrote Liu.
Flash in front towards Friday evening March 28, 2025. Liu, now 19 and without retirement, sailed through her triple jumps as carefree in her four -minute program, offering a windy, delicious and fanciful performance to become the first American woman in 19 years to win the World Championship – with the Winter Olympic Games from 2026 to 10 months.
“What is Devil?” Liu said when she had finished, laughing as she perfectly summarized one of the most remarkable return stories in the history of her sport. The skaters do not disappear, do not reappear and then win world titles – but that’s exactly what Liu has just done.
“Even yesterday, I did not expect that,” she said, referring to the head of the head after the short program on Wednesday. “I had no expectations to come. I have no more expectations in competition. This is more of what I can put out in terms of performance and I really met my expectations today. ”
She was in competition with new freedom, given a second chance in sport and a life she loves. She crossed the entrance gateway before taking the ice for the short program, and she did it again Friday evening when her name was called for the medal ceremony. In this sport full of pressure where you stumble on the slippery ice can ruin the dreams of a life, little or not of their nervous that Liu has done it here in the last three days.
This was noticeable for its competitors. “I have the impression that her cheerfulness, her kindness and the way she is always so happy has brought her to this position at the top of the podium,” said Japanese Kaori Sakamoto Triple Sakamoto, who finished second. “In fact, I would say that something has changed because it is brighter, it is happier now.”
In the time she was far from skating, Liu attended the UCLA and did things that she was never allowed to do when she was in competition, like going ski for the first time. Trying a new sport ended up reviving her love for her first, so about a year ago, she started to practice, in the hope of getting back in the form of skating. Whatever his goal, it was certainly not that.
She became the first American woman to win a world title from Kimmie Meissner in 2006, but there is a difference in the moment and the meaning of these titles. Meissner won his one month after the Olympic Games, while Liu’s victory was led to the Olympic year. She has now become a favorite of the medal for the Milan games, and if she was to win an Olympic medal in all colors, she would become the first American woman to do so since Sasha Cohen won the silver medal in 2006, and before that, Sarah Hughes won gold and Michelle Kwan in 2002.
Everything that comes for Liu will be both fascinating and unexpected. “I have never regretted anything in my life,” she said. “Each decision I made, I am so happy to have done it. It really brought me at the time. ”
A second chance at 19. Who wouldn’t take that?
