Alysa Liu Faces Reality Check After Olympic Glory

The 20-year-old figure skater is adjusting to newfound global fame after historic double-gold performance.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Fresh off a historic double-gold performance at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, American figure skater Alysa Liu is facing the challenge of living a normal life under the global spotlight. Liu's Olympic success has made her a worldwide sensation, with her Instagram following skyrocketing from under 300,000 to over 5.8 million in just one week. However, her coach says Liu simply wants to be herself and is not interested in the fame, as she quickly shifts her focus to defending her world title in Prague next month.

Why it matters

Liu's Olympic triumph has catapulted her to global stardom, but the 20-year-old is struggling to adapt to her newfound fame. This story highlights the challenges elite athletes can face when they suddenly become household names, as they try to balance their athletic pursuits with the demands of celebrity.

The details

After retiring from figure skating following the 2022 Beijing Games, Liu returned to the ice in 2024 and quickly regained her dominance, winning major competitions like the Budapest Trophy, World Championships, and ISU Grand Prix Final. Her stunning performance at the 2026 Winter Olympics, where she won gold in both the individual and team events, made her an instant global superstar. Liu's coach says they will have to adjust her training schedule at her home rink in Oakland, California, to manage the attention she has received.

  • Liu returned to the United States on Monday, February 26, 2026.
  • The 2026 World Figure Skating Championships will be held in Prague from March 24 to 29, 2026.
  • Liu will perform 8 shows in 9 days in Japan on the Stars on Ice tour after the World Championships.
  • Liu will then kick off the U.S. leg of the Stars on Ice tour 4 days later, performing 26 shows over 6 weeks.

The players

Alysa Liu

A 20-year-old American figure skater who won historic double-gold at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, capturing the women's individual and team event titles.

Phillip DiGuglielmo

Alysa Liu's coach, who says they will have to adjust her training schedule to manage the attention she has received after her Olympic success.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We have to figure out how we are going to train (for worlds). We may have to ask the rink management to close the rink when she trains because of the attention she has gotten.”

— Phillip DiGuglielmo, Alysa Liu's coach (centredaily.com)

“Dealing with that kind of attention is not what she wants now. She doesn't want to be famous. She wants to be Alysa.”

— Phillip DiGuglielmo, Alysa Liu's coach (centredaily.com)

“No press tour right away, no nothing. Alysa is going to have some time for herself, but it won't be much, because we leave for Prague [on] March 21.”

— Phillip DiGuglielmo, Alysa Liu's coach (centredaily.com)

What’s next

The 2026 World Figure Skating Championships will be held in Prague from March 24 to 29, where Liu will defend her world title.

The takeaway

Alysa Liu's stunning Olympic success has thrust her into the global spotlight, but the 20-year-old figure skater is struggling to adapt to her newfound fame. This story highlights the challenges elite athletes can face when they suddenly become household names, as they try to balance their athletic pursuits with the demands of celebrity.