The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina have become the stage for one of the most remarkable redemption arcs in sporting history. Alysa Liu, the 20-year-old former phenom who walked away from figure skating at just 16, has returned to the ice not just as a competitor, but as a gold-medal-winning force of nature.
As of 17 February 2026, Liu is the focal point of the “Blade Angels”—a powerhouse American trio including Amber Glenn and Isabeau Levito. Having already secured a gold medal in the Olympic team event earlier this month, Liu is now the heavy favourite to become the first American woman to win individual Olympic gold since Sarah Hughes in 2002.
The Road to Milan: From Retirement to Reigning World Champion
Liu’s journey to the 2026 Games has been anything but traditional. After becoming the youngest-ever U.S. women’s champion at age 13 and competing in the Beijing 2022 Olympics, she stunned the skating world by announcing her retirement. At the time, she cited a loss of passion for the sport, stating she “really hated skating” when she quit.
However, a winter break ski trip in 2024 reignited her love for the ice. Since announcing her comeback in March 2024, Liu has been on a tear:
- 2025 World Championships: Captured the gold medal, becoming the first American woman to hold the world title in nearly two decades.
- 2025 Grand Prix Final: Secured first place, cementing her status as the world’s top-ranked skater.
- 2026 Winter Olympics (Team Event): Led Team USA to a gold medal with a performance that featured seven triple flips in the free skate.
“Alysa 2.0”: An Alternative Icon
The Alysa Liu competing in Milan is a far cry from the “prodigy” persona of her early teens. Dubbed “Alysa 2.0,” she has embraced an “alt-grunge” aesthetic that is challenging the rigid traditions of figure skating. Sporting blonde horizontal “striped” hair highlights, a lip piercing, and programs set to music that reflects her personal journey, Liu has become a symbol of authenticity.
Her free skate program, titled “Promise,” is widely interpreted as a tribute to her complicated relationship with the sport—a narrative of leaving and eventually finding her way back on her own terms. “I chose to be here,” Liu told reporters in Milan. “I’m doing this for me now, not because I have to.”
Current Status: Individual Gold Hunt
The women’s individual competition is currently underway. Following her dominant performance in the team event—where she overcame an 18-point deficit with a technically superior second half of her program—all eyes are on her short program scores. Despite a minor mishap involving her team gold medal (which reportedly broke and had to be returned for repairs), Liu remains focused on the individual podium.
With her signature technical difficulty and newfound artistic maturity, Liu is not just chasing a medal; she is redefining what it means to be an Olympic champion in the modern era. For Canadian fans and the global skating community, her “second act” is proving to be even more spectacular than her first.