Alysa Liu cheer/fan thread

[Sylvia]

Alysa just posted this video at 4 a.m. Milan time. Her ribbon already is off her medal. (I don't think she is the first one. Other gold medalists already have had similar issues.)

刘美贤 Alysa Liu on Instagram: "Proud of the team"

44K likes, 502 comments - alysaxliu on February 8, 2026: "Proud of the team".

www.instagram.com

Fletcher Mackel of NBC New Orleans took photos with Amber & Alysa on Sunday night (before Alysa's medal came off the ribbon!):

Fletcher Mackel on Instagram: "Sunday night @teamusa figure skating ⛸️ became the first nation to ever win back-to-back gold medals 🥇 🥇 in the team event. Amber Glenn and Alysa Liu helped lead the way."

109 likes, 2 comments - fletchermackel on February 9, 2026: "Sunday night @teamusa figure skating ⛸️ became the first nation to ever win back-to-back gold medals 🥇 🥇 in the team event. Amber Glenn and Alysa Liu helped lead the way.".

www.instagram.com

Today (Monday) Alysa explained to KCRA Sacramento's Deirdre Fitzpatrick (links to her excellent interview with Alysa are in posts #123 & 124 of this thread) that it came off as she was jumping up & down on the podium and so she got a replacement medal for media day:

KCRA on Instagram: "Oakland figure skater Alysa Liu secured her first gold medal of the 2026 Winter Olympics on Monday. Deirdre Fitzpatrick caught up with her in Milan, where her medal is giving her some trouble."

202 likes, 1 comments - kcranews on February 9, 2026: "Oakland figure skater Alysa Liu secured her first gold medal of the 2026 Winter Olympics on Monday. Deirdre Fitzpatrick caught up with her in Milan, where her medal is giving her some trouble.".

www.instagram.com

Here's Fitzpatrick's own post:

Deirdre Fitzpatrick on Instagram: "Alysa Liu was one of my favorite athletes heading into @milanocortina2026 . She and her coach gave us remarkable access to their training. And I loved that she said she didn’t want to skate unless she was having a g

1,876 likes, 6 comments - runreadsip on February 9, 2026: "Alysa Liu was one of my favorite athletes heading into @milanocortina2026 . She and her coach gave us remarkable access to their training. And I loved that she said she didn’t want to skate unless she was having a good time. Looks like...

www.instagram.com

Amber & Alysa were on the TODAY Show earlier today with Ellie & Danny: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6T1p2cYrG7E

ETA:

The Players’ Tribune (swipe left for video):

The Players' Tribune on Instagram: "As skating consumed Alysa Liu’s entire life, she fell out of love with the sport. After Covid, she came back to the ice on her own terms. • 📸: @khklann/The Players’ Tribune"

playerstribune on February 9, 2026: "As skating consumed Alysa Liu’s entire life, she fell out of love with the sport. After Covid, she came back to the ice on her own terms. • 📸: @khklann/The Players’ Tribune".

www.instagram.com

More local news interviews:

NBCLA on Instagram: "Alysa Liu spoke with Lynette Romero about teamwork and her passion for performing and competition. #nbcla"

212 likes, 3 comments - nbcla on February 9, 2026: "Alysa Liu spoke with Lynette Romero about teamwork and her passion for performing and competition. #nbcla".

www.instagram.com

NBC BAY AREA on Instagram: "After winning Olympic gold in the team figure skating event, Alysa Liu reflects on her comeback and says the journey that brought her back to skating means more to her than the medal itself. #winterolympics #olympics #fi

1,810 likes, 14 comments - nbcbayarea on February 9, 2026: "After winning Olympic gold in the team figure skating event, Alysa Liu reflects on her comeback and says the journey that brought her back to skating means more to her than the medal itself. #winterolympics #olympics #figureskating...

www.instagram.com

NBC New York on Instagram: "Figure skater Alysa Liu reflects on her unique journey after taking gold in the figure skating team competition Sunday night. #Olympics #figureskating #milano"

1,900 likes, 20 comments - nbcnewyork on February 10, 2026: "Figure skater Alysa Liu reflects on her unique journey after taking gold in the figure skating team competition Sunday night. #Olympics #figureskating #milano".

www.instagram.com

Latest post:

刘美贤 Alysa Liu on Instagram: "💙 my favorite artist drew me, @aina_to thank you ahhhh 💙"

75K likes, 202 comments - alysaxliu on February 9, 2026: "💙 my favorite artist drew me, @aina_to thank you ahhhh 💙".

www.instagram.com

 

[Sylvia]

Glad to see Alysa made a trip to Lake Como (a pro skater ran into her there and posted this selfie of them):

A L E 💫 on Instagram: "Bumped into this amazing lady in Lake Como today! I was so trying not to post anything (my attempt to stay as present as possible at the Olympics and enjoy every single moment!)… but how could I not after this? Dear @alysaxli

9,795 likes, 17 comments - ale.cat.official on February 13, 2026: "Bumped into this amazing lady in Lake Como today! I was so trying not to post anything (my attempt to stay as present as possible at the Olympics and enjoy every single moment!)… but how could I not after this? Dear @alysaxliu...

www.instagram.com

Alysa practiced twice on Valentine's Day - Jackie's jump notes for her:

Morning: 2A, 3S, 3T, 3Lo, 3F, 3F2T, 3Lz, 3Lz(turn), 3Lz3Lo(q), runthru (marked F, 2A, 3Lz3Lo)

Afternoon: 2A, 2A, runthru (3F, marked Lz/S, 3Lo, 3Lz2A2T, 3F2T, 2A), 3S, 3Lo, 3Lo, 3S, 3T, 3Lo, 3Lo, 3S, 3Lz3T, 3Lz3Lo

 

[Allskate]

Here is an interesting article about the training going on in Bergamo during the Olympics, with quite a bit of discussion of the American women, especially Alysa. Alysa warms up her lutz/loop in a baseball cap, cuz why not?

Meanwhile, in Bergamo: A look inside IceLab amidst the Olympics

By Maya Bleszinski, CSUF World News

csufolympics.com

 

[Sylvia]

Raymond Braun:

Raymond Braun | PinkPantheress surprised Alysa Liu with a message of support ahead of her upcoming figure skating competition at the Winter Olympics! When... | Instagram

3,589 likes, 12 comments - raymondbraun on February 16, 2026: "PinkPantheress surprised Alysa Liu with a message of support ahead of her upcoming figure skating competition at the Winter Olympics!...

www.instagram.com

PinkPantheress surprised Alysa Liu with a message of support ahead of her upcoming figure skating competition at the Winter Olympics!

When I last interviewed @alysaxliu and asked what she’d include in her mental health toolkit, the very first thing she mentioned was a song by @pinkpantheress, her favorite artist.

I reached out to Pink and was so thrilled to receive this message to share with Alysa the day before she begins competition in the women’s figure skating finals. Huge thanks to Pink and her amazing team for making this moment possible.

Alysa, so many of us are cheering you on and wishing you an incredible week of skating. So proud of you.

ETA:

USA TODAY article by Jordan Mendoza (Feb. 16, 2026):

Unapologetically herself, Alysa Liu's Olympic comeback is golden

Alysa Liu had to leave figure skating to fall in love with it again. Now she's on the road to gold, all while still getting to be herself.

www.usatoday.com

 

[Sylvia]

Alysa spoke with David Greene on his “Sports in America” podcast - a clip:

WHYY | Alysa Liu is widely considered a skating prodigy. At 12 years old, she was the youngest woman to land a triple axel, and just a year later,... | Instagram

1,039 likes, 6 comments - whyy on February 12, 2026: "Alysa Liu is widely considered a skating prodigy. At 12 years old, she was the youngest woman to land a triple axel, and just a year later, she’d...

www.instagram.com

Full episode (aired on Feb. 13):

Olympian Alysa Liu Doesn’t Care About the Medals - WHYY

Alysa Liu has been considered a figure skating prodigy ever since she was a kid. When she was just 12 years old, she was the youngest U.S. woman to land a triple axel in a competition. Then at 13, she became the country’s youngest World Champion ever.

whyy.org

ETA - In case you missed seeing this very special Blade Angels promo in the U.S. Women’s news thread yesterday:

NBC Olympics & Paralympics | Amber. Alysa. Isabeau. Let Taylor Swift introduce you to the Blade Angels: Three American showgirls on ice. #WinterOlympics | Instagram

100K likes, 883 comments - nbcolympics on February 16, 2026: "Amber. Alysa. Isabeau. Let Taylor Swift introduce you to the Blade Angels: Three American showgirls on ice. #WinterOlympics".

www.instagram.com

Q&A with The Athletic:

The Athletic | American figure skater Alysa Liu put her company in prime position to win another team gold in Milan Cortina. We played 'This or That'... | Instagram

383 likes, 0 comments - theathletichq on February 17, 2026: "American figure skater Alysa Liu put her company in prime position to win another team gold in Milan Cortina. We played 'This or That'...

www.instagram.com

 

[Sylvia]

Laufey's good luck video to Alysa:

On Her Turf | When the voice behind the music sends love 💌 Alysa Liu gets a special Olympic good luck from Laufey! #WinterOlympics | Instagram

40K likes, 50 comments - onherturf on February 17, 2026: "When the voice behind the music sends love 💌 Alysa Liu gets a special Olympic good luck from Laufey! #WinterOlympics".

www.instagram.com

Her 3rd place SP (76.59 ISU PB; 3F, 2A, 3Lz+3Loq) from the Olympics' YT channel (also geoblocked outside U.S., I believe): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpYOUUW3c0Y

Mic'd up: Alysa Liu's coaches [Phillip DiGuglielmo, Massimo Scali] watch her short program (NBC Sports): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2b-aWZywslE

Mixed zone comments as transcribed by Golden Skate: https://www.instagram.com/p/DU4Bc-9jDZU/

On performing for the audience:
“Tonight I performed for the people. I performed for them specifically.”

On how this Olympics feels different from her first:
“Genuinely I could not even describe how different it is. Just the fact that my family and friends are here, the fact that there isn’t COVID, the fact that I’m here with programs that I love and I’m proud of to show the people and wear dresses that I love. I’m super confident in myself and everything. It goes beyond my skating. I’m really glad that I got this stage that I am on right now.”

On her siblings being here:
“I didn’t see my siblings really much last time when I was a skater, and they never came to a competition. So the fact that this is the first time they are seeing this program as well, it was actually very special.

On if they are also coming to Worlds?
“No, they have school; they are skipping school for this. Worlds is not big enough for them. And no, my family is not a distraction. My family and my friends, they’re the only reason why I’m here and they support me. I would never call them a distraction.”

On placement and scores:
“Well, you know, it wouldn’t change a thing, right? I hope it wouldn’t. I’m still performing for all the people, and I hope the score or the placement doesn’t affect how people see me.”

On her excitement for the free skate and the Olympic gala:
“I’m excited for my new dress for the free skate. I’m excited to present it, and I really want to be invited to the Olympic gala. I’m just proud to be here. I really want to be in the gala because I have a really cool gala program that I’ve been working on, and it’s basically done.”

On medals:
“I don’t need a medal. I just need to be here. I just need to be present and need people to see what I do next.”

On Amber and her skate:
“Oh gosh, she’s gone through so much, and she actually worked freaking hard — genuinely such a hard worker — and she’s overcome a lot. I just want her to be happy. That’s all I want. I’ll be seeing her later.”

ETA:

The Players' Tribune video:

The Players' Tribune | “I just add skating into my life, but skating isn't my life, like it was before.” When Covid hit, @teamusa ice skater Alysa Liu took a... | Instagram

playerstribune on February 7, 2026: "“I just add skating into my life, but skating isn't my life, like it was before.” When Covid hit, @teamusa ice skater Alysa Liu took a step back as she fell out...

www.instagram.com

 

[AYS]

The Oakland zoo congratulations Alysa on her Olympic gold medal:

Oakland Zoo | Congratulations to Oakland’s own @alysaxliu for her Olympic gold medal in ice skating!! 🏅 Will you be our valentine? You’re just our type... | Instagram

5,469 likes, 12 comments - oaklandzoo on February 14, 2026: "Congratulations to Oakland’s own @alysaxliu for her Olympic gold medal in ice skating!! 🏅 Will you be our valentine? You’re just our...

www.instagram.com

ETA: Apologies if this is somewhere upthread, I'm just seeing it on my feed.

 

[Sylvia]

I checked and Les Carpenter's Feb. 5th feature article on Alysa was never posted in this thread (it was in the U.S. Women's news thread in GSD but not gifted - here's a gifted link that the journalist shared on X yesterday - "She might be one of the most interesting people in figure skating - and that’s saying something! Here’s a story I did on her chaotic but effective process" https://x.com/Lescarpenter/status/2023730627497894011): Alysa Liu’s chaotic figure skating path to the Olympics; Song and wardrobe changes were only some of the challenges the American star has faced.
Excerpts:

On a sunny afternoon early last July, American figure skating star Alysa Liu sat in the window table of a downtown ramen restaurant here arguing with her coach and choreographer about Lady Gaga.
The Milan Cortina Olympics were just seven months away, and Liu didn’t have a program for her free skate, the four-minute program that probably will determine whether she wins a gold medal in Milan. Many of her competitors not only had completed free skate programs, but had been practicing them for weeks, some even posting clips on social media. Liu’s, however, was a half-finished idea of movements, built around two Lady Gaga songs that didn’t fit together, a fact that was obvious to everyone but her.
Time was running out. Liu; her choreographer, Massimo Scali; and coach, Phillip DiGuglielmo, were under pressure to surpass the rapturous free skate she had used to win last March’s world championships in Boston, where she circled the ice, spinning and leaping to Donna Summer’s “MacArthur Park,” and left everyone feeling as if they were at the biggest disco party in years.

When Liu skates next week at the Milano Ice Skating Arena, she will be one of the United States’ top hopes for one and possibly two medals. But her path there has been a seven-month journey that included more Lady Gaga songs, more disagreements, a celebrity scandal that led to the scrapping of a short program they long had considered settled, six expensive custom dresses — four worn just once, one not at all — and a roller-skating DJ in Rome named Lorenzo.
It might be the strangest lead-up to an Olympics of any top medal contender in Milan. Then again, there might not be another skater quite like Liu, 20, who pinballs through life like a TikTok scroll, a rush of thoughts all at once, and yet composed and flawless in competition when she turns off the noise.

Constructing a skating program is a blend of artistic expression and technical specifics. Most coaches bring in a choreographer who designs the programs, picks the music, flies in for a week to teach them and then leaves the skater and coach to practice them for the next several months. DiGuglielmo, Scali and Liu do it their own way. They all live in the Bay Area and spend their time together. Their programs are collaborations, conceived in Liu’s head and sketched out in Scali’s notebook. They say they are like a family.
“And families can sometimes be chaotic and dysfunctional,” Scali said. [...]
Now Liu has loads of ideas — about skating music, skating programs and skating costumes. She stores them all in her phone, which is never far from her reach, even during practices when she’s in the middle of the ice. The Spotify list of songs that she someday would like to skate to seems endless. Dress designs are sorted neatly in idea boards tucked away on apps. She searches them often.
“I like thinking of new programs,” she says.

Liu said she has noticed the ways her ADHD has been undermining her, destroying all concept of time. She said she’s always arriving late to airports, checking her bag at the very last minute almost as if it’s a game. “Will I make this flight? Yes or no?” she said with a laugh.
Compulsively overhauling a skating program shortly before an Olympics isn’t that different.
“No one would willingly put themselves in these positions,” she said. “But I find myself in these positions, and I love a challenge. Honestly, I think I, like, subconsciously make my life a little bit harder at times to challenge myself.” [...]
The ADHD that often sends Liu skittering into chaos is her superpower on the ice. She says it allows her to “hyperfocus on skating” when she doesn’t hyperfocus on other things.
In a place where most skaters are their least comfortable, she is at her calmest.
“I seem unreliable, but I’m actually very reliable,” she said. “You just have to trust the process.”

 

[Theatregirl1122]

Alysa's comments on Amber are very sweet.

 

[Sylvia]

Congratulations to the 2026 Olympic double gold medalist!

ETA from a Reddit AMA yesterday (refer to the Robert Samuels' articles thread in this subforum):

Q: Of all of the athletes you’ve gotten to see and meet with this year, who was your favorite to watch? And who was your favorite to meet or talk with?
I have several. Over the years I’ve come to know and appreciate Ilia Malinin, Amber Glenn and Kallie Humphries and enjoy speaking to them for different reasons. It’s been fun to watch Malinin grow from a teenager to an adult. Glenn is an open book and will talk honestly about anything. Humphries is one of the most intense athletes I’ve ever been around. But Alysa Liu fascinates me more than any of them. She has such a carefree personality and acts as if she doesn’t care but she’s also a fierce competitor. – Les (his article is linked in post #218 above)

 

[Sylvia]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2024619866074796177

 

[Wyliefan]

Congratulations to Alysa!

That guy asked good questions. Can he please replace Andrea??

 

[Sylvia]

NBC Sports' has uploaded these 9 Alysa videos (geoblocked outside the U.S.; watch while you can!):

"How Alysa Liu rediscovered her love of figure skating in time for the Winter Olympics" (4:35; aired before her FS): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUOvLHlNxOo

Alysa Liu's FABULOUS gold medal-winning free skate [through kiss & cry] (8:03): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCrFaRsezGo

Alysa Liu reacts to winning Olympic gold medal after free skate + medal ceremony (8:05): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTnInJAWbV0

EVERY ANGLE: Alysa Liu's gold medal-winning free skate (4:18; NO MUSIC): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVRjpE8ppK0

"Alysa Liu RAW: behind the scenes of a legendary gold medal moment in Milan" (8 mins.): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDCu2xF8BoE

Take a behind the scenes trip with Alysa Liu from the moment her gold medal-winning free skate ended, through the score reveals, [hug by Amber; selfie by Kaori on the podium], and a promise to break this gold medal too

Interview with Andrea Joyce after the medal ceremony: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhc00PRmNgc

Mike Tirico's interview at the end of NBC's Primetime broadcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9R71OeytyrA

Alysa Liu's family reacts to EPIC gold medal-winning free skate (1:13): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiDVzrnrMUs

Alysa Liu greeted by family, friends to celebrate gold medal win [arena has emptied by this point] (0:53): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErZpX2jKHEM

 

[Anita18]

Oakland institution Fenton’s Creamery (featured at the end of Pixar’s Up if you don’t blink) has offered Alysa free ice cream for life. I hope she takes them up on it! https://www.facebook.com/1000646219...AVdJsAmn4FSjHxFbLl/?fs=e&mibextid=wwXIfr&fs=e

As someone who lives very close to Oakland (I always pass through on my commute) I hope they have a parade for her!!!

 

[Skate Talker]

So I have been meaning to comment for a long time about Alyssa's hair choice. I don't know why some say it reminds them of a particularly malodorous animal. If one must compare it to an animal I say it looks more like a wolverine. Wolverine's are strong and fear no others. A wolverine knows who it is. Go wolverines!

 

[Vagabond]

Yesterday, Alysa Liu rented out a large venue in Milan, negotiated worldwide broadcasting rights, invited her friends to do their Free Skating programs, and put on a show.

 

[Karen-W]

Yesterday, Alysa Liu rented out a large venue in Milan, negotiated worldwide broadcasting rights, invited her friends to do their Free Skating programs, and put on a show.

And it was glorious! Apart from Kimmy Repond's very rough free skate, there were just 4 falls amongst the other 23 ladies participating in Alysa's showcase. Still can't get over how marvelous a night it was.

 

[Icetalavista]

So I have been meaning to comment for a long time about Alyssa's hair choice. I don't know why some say it reminds them of a particularly malodorous animal. If one must compare it to an animal I say it looks more like a wolverine. Wolverine's are strong and fear no others. A wolverine knows who it is. Go wolverines!

One article said she thought of the stripes as rings on a tree. But if she did them just for the heck of it, that’s so Alysa.

 

[BittyBug]

I don’t think this NYT article has been posted yet (gifted link):

Alysa Liu’s defining Olympic night and a shine that bucks her sport’s expectations

Liu's gold medal, a first for an American woman in figure skating since 2002, challenges the sport's conventions about rigidity.

www.nytimes.com