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20-Year-Old Alysa Liu Officially Selected for Team USA at the 2026 Winter Olympics
Alysa Liu has punched her ticket to the 2026 Winter Olympics by winning the silver medal at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships on January 9.
This podium finish confirms that the 20-year-old skater will again dazzle the crowd and represent Team USA in Milan-Cortina.
Liu finished second behind Amber Glenn, who claimed her third consecutive national title with a score of 233.55.
Liu scored 228.91, while Isabeau Levito took the bronze. Together, this powerful trio will lead the American squad in Italy.
Born in Clovis, California, to a Chinese immigrant father, Alysa began skating at age five. By 13, she became the youngest U.S. national champion.
She was a prodigy carrying immense pressure, eventually competing in the Beijing 2022 Olympics.
At 16, feeling burnt out, she retired. She attended UCLA, traveled the world, and explored new activities like skiing.
This hiatus gave her perspective, allowing her to reconnect with the sport she once loved and return with renewed focus and clarity.
Liu returned to competition last year, winning the 2025 World Figure Skating Championships after just seven months of training.
Her recent U.S. silver confirms her skill and resilience, proving a brief hiatus strengthened both her talent and competitive focus.
Speaking after her U.S. Championship performance, Liu praised her fellow competitors. “To share a podium with these girls, to spend more time with them, I love it,” she said.
Her gratitude and camaraderie highlight the sportsmanship and dedication that define her ongoing career.