The scene was the Asian Open Figure Skating Trophy in Bangkok, Thailand, and the time was August 2018. A young Asian American girl stands confidently in the middle of the glistening rink, a sweet smile gracing her face. As soon as the music starts, her expression shifts, and her eyes turn to the ice with a concentrated, singular focus. Light, tinkling music fills the stadium as she glides across the ice with effortless grace and elegance.
Birth of a Star
This girl is Alysa Liu from Oakland, California. She was only twelve years old at the 2018 Asian Open, where she became the youngest skater in history to land a triple axel at an international competition. The triple axel is one of figure skating’s oldest and most difficult jumps; it takes an incredible amount of strength and body control to land successfully. Historically, few female skaters have been able to do it—in fact, only twelve women have been able to complete one in competition. She might have only been in middle school, but Alysa Liu had already made history.
In an interview with NBC Sports, 1998 Olympic champion Tara Lipinski said that Alysa is “the future of U.S. ladies’ skating … She will be the one to push the next generation forward.” With Alysa’s determination, ambition, and courage, there is no doubt she will. Immediately after breaking records in the Asian Open, she took part in the 2019 U.S. Figure Skating Championships. There, she surpassed expectations again, landing a record-breaking three triple axels and becoming the youngest woman to win a U.S. Championship title at the age of thirteen.
Later that year, in August, Alysa participated in the 2019 Junior Grand Prix, where she became the first U.S. woman to land a quadruple Lutz in competition. Despite all her successes, she remains modest, maintaining a nonchalant attitude. “I don’t obsess,” she said, regarding her achievement. “Afterwards, I just focused on what I needed to do next.” Her talent and rapid growth has made her one of the most anticipated skaters in the 2022 Winter Olympics.
Chasing Her Dreams
“My favorite things to practice are jumps,” Alysa said in an interview with Elite Lifestyle Magazine. “I like the feeling of being in the air—it’s almost like I’m riding a roller coaster.” Her straightforward response exudes a childlike innocence. From the outside, she is like any other fourteen-year-old girl; in her spare time, she enjoys hanging out with friends, shopping, and going out to eat. However, her ten-year figure skating journey has been anything but ordinary.
Alysa’s father, Arthur Liu, immigrated from China to California in the 1980s, where he pursued a law career as a general practitioner. He had always been a big fan of figure skating and used to frequent the Oakland Ice Center, which was ten minutes from his firm. When Alysa was five years old, he would bring her to the rink to play around. Noticing how much his daughter enjoyed figure skating, he decided to enroll her in lessons with Laura Lipetsky, who has been Alysa’s coach ever since.
Though Arthur is very supportive of Alysa’s figure skating career, there have been instances where it was difficult for him to watch how hard she has to work. For a period of time, Alysa had to go to the stadium to practice every day before dawn. It was hard seeing his daughter practice for hours on end when most kids were outside playing.
However, to Alysa, practice has never been a chore. “I never get bored of training, because there are always new things to learn,” she explained. No matter how many times she fails and falls down, she is always quick to pick herself back up. “I don’t mind spending so much time practicing. Sure, I have to make some sacrifices, but I get back so much more in return.” Despite her young age, she is wholeheartedly committed to her passions, and willing to do all that it takes to reach her goals.
Always Striving for Improvement
Before her first international competition in 2018, Alysa had already made a name for herself in the U.S. figure skating community. She was only ten years old when she competed in the 2016 U.S. Championships and became the youngest female skater to earn the intermediate gold medal. Some may attribute her extraordinary accomplishments to natural-born talent; however, according to her father, it all comes down to her mentality of working hard.
“She has a very strong work ethic,” Arthur explained in an interview with Elite. “When practicing a new technique, she will not stop until she is satisfied with her performance.” Additionally, she is not afraid to acknowledge her mistakes. Whenever he and Alysa review videos of her practicing, she is always the first to point out any problems and explain what she could do better.
Alysa never fails to surprise those around her. Every competition leaves Arthur in awe of his daughter’s ability, as she is always transcending expectations and frequently sets new records. However, Alysa doesn’t let her success go to her head, and she is always looking for ways to improve. “I want to get better at everything,” she said enthusiastically.
Despite all her accomplishments so far, Alysa’s journey is merely beginning. This year, she will turn fifteen, which allows her to finally qualify for senior international competitions. This means that she will soon be facing a whole new level of competitors. Nevertheless, this doesn’t deter her. “I just want to keep improving, and hopefully make history along the way,” she told NBC Sports.
Alysa is eternally grateful for the world of opportunities that figure skating has brought her. “Skating has made my life so much better—I’ve traveled to many different places, met many amazing people, and had so many incredible experiences. None of that would have been possible if I hadn’t started figure skating,” she told Elite. With her sweet smile and bright-eyed enthusiasm, we look forward to seeing her shine on the international stage.
This is the ELITE 2020 May Edition Cover Story.
