Alysa Liu’s Radiant Olympic Gold Comeback

Quick Smiles:

• Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu overcame burnout for joyful skating triumph.
• Prioritized sleep, family time, and friends to rebuild mental strength.
• Encourages breaks and self-focus for young athletes feeling overwhelmed.

Alysa Liu shone brightly winning women’s figure skating gold at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, radiating joy throughout the Games.

Just years earlier, the then-16-year-old retired due to burnout and loneliness after non-stop training since age 5.

“My mental health used to be horrible, like, absolutely horrible,” Liu, now 20, tells TODAY.com.

“And I just took a break, and I did something new. I moved on to a different part of my life. I really focused on school and friendship, and honestly, that’s the thing that grounded me.”

Surrounding herself with supportive people proved crucial, including her first vacation and earning her driver’s license.

“I learned how to drive during that time, so I was able to go out more and hang out with my siblings more and go do things. So that definitely helped,” she says.

A thrilling ski trip to Lake Tahoe sparked her return, announced in March 2024.

“I went skiing and I had so much fun, and I was like, ‘Well, I want to keep having more fun.’ So it was a selfish decision,” Liu says.

Her mental strength formula features ample sleep, gym sessions, full meals, breathing techniques, and staying chill under pressure.

“Getting a good night’s sleep and making sure I talk to the people I love often,” she shares as core habits.

“I think sleep is like the biggest thing — getting enough hours. I need at least eight hours to feel good.”

Family anchors her, with her father as top cheerleader and four younger siblings she adores.

“Don’t compare yourself to anybody. Stay on your own path, your own journey, and focus on yourself,” Liu advises those struggling.

For burned-out young athletes: “If it’s really such a struggle, I would say definitely take that break. Don’t be scared to do that. You’ll be scared of failure, (but) honestly, trying new things will definitely give you a different outcome.”

She’d tell her younger self nothing, trusting the journey unfolded perfectly.

“Nothing, nothing. I would not want to tell her a thing,” Liu says. “Because I don’t want anything to change. Like, she’ll figure it out. She’ll go through it.”

Embrace Alysa’s wisdom—nurture your mental health and chase joy on your terms!

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