MILAN — Alysa Liu had a lot to celebrate Thursday, but what she really beamed about was the color of her dress, the one she wore during a stunning free skate that catapulted her to victory in the women’s figure skating singles event at the 2026 Olympics.
“My program is very fun and I feel really confident,’’ Liu said. “… And this is my favorite dress of all time, so that’s kind of big.’’
Also, she noted of the dress, “it matches my hair.’’
Liu, the 20-year-old American, joined elite and elegant company on Thursday, Feb. 19, now among the ranks of U.S. women’s figure skaters who have won Olympic golds — a list that includes legends like Dorothy Hamill, Peggy Fleming and Kristi Yamaguchi.
Sharing her story
Liu contemplated her future not long after winning the Olympic gold medal.
“I want to be a storyteller,’’ she said between thoughts, and also remarked, “I think my story is pretty cool and so I hope that inspires some people as well.’’
At 13, Liu became the youngest U.S. national champion ever.
At 16, she finished sixth at the 2022 Olympics and then walked away from the sport.
She returned two years later and has proceeded to turn the sport upside down, on its now-platinum-dyed head. What’s the most important part of her story?
“Most important part of our story is human connection,’’ she said. “Really that’s all I want in my life is human connection and damn now connect with a hell of ton of people.’’
There are the millions who watched her glide, spin and jump through a four-minute performance that captivated the crowd.
Some might know about her father, who fled from China after he organized protests and hunger strikes at the same time of the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989.
Or that she and her father were targeted by Chinese spies before the U.S Justice Department charged five men in a criminal complaint.
And…
“I think my story is more important than anything to me, and that’s what I will hold dear,” she said. “And this journey has been incredible and my life has just been, I have no complaints and I’m just so grateful for everything.”
How will Alysa Liu celebrate?
At the Milano Ice Skating Arena, in a building that holds a capacity of about 10,000, Liu seemed to be particularly aware of the spectators in Section 28, Row 2, Seats 1 through 5.
There sat her father, Arthur, and her four siblings who have traveled from their home near Oakland.
Other friends and family sat elsewhere in the crowd.
“This experience is really cool and I got to see the past two nights, I’ve gone to see my siblings and my friends, had dinner with them, late-night dinners,’’ she said. “Super fun and, yeah, I’m just glad that I could bring Oakland to a lot of people.’’
How will she celebrate her gold medal?
This got Liu talking about dresses again – such as the one she’ll wear to the Olympic gala, an exhibition on Saturday that will feature medalists.
“Let’s talk about that,’’ she said. “I have a program that I really am excited to show. It’s a really cool dress, unlike any dress I have…’’
She said she needed a big stage on Thursday. And is looking forward to another big stage on Saturday.
Liu has a story to tell, and it’s one unlike any heard before at the Winter Olympics
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Alysa Liu gold medal win latest chapter in incredible life story
