Olympian Alysa Liu Reveals 2 Keys to Staying Grounded After Gold Medal Win

The 20-year-old figure skater shares how she's avoided getting overwhelmed by newfound fame and social media attention.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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Alysa Liu, the 20-year-old figure skater who won the U.S. its first women's Olympic gold medal in 24 years, has gained millions of new Instagram followers since her big win. But Liu says she's intentionally avoided getting caught up in the social media frenzy, limiting her time on Instagram and TikTok to only posting and viewing close friends' content. Liu credits this approach, along with staying off the internet in general and sticking to her usual routine, as keys to helping her stay grounded after her Olympic triumph.

Why it matters

Liu's story highlights the challenges young athletes can face in managing sudden fame and online attention after a major accomplishment. By sharing her tactics for maintaining her mental health and sense of self, Liu provides a model for other rising stars on how to navigate the pressures of social media and public scrutiny.

The details

Liu, who is from the San Francisco Bay Area, says she doesn't spend a lot of time scrolling on Instagram - the only social media platform she uses besides TikTok. 'I don't scroll on Instagram,' she explains. 'When I go on there, it's only to post, and sometimes, view my friends' posts. The only accounts I have not muted are the people I know in my life.' Liu also avoids going on the internet in general, which she believes has helped her stay grounded. In addition, she's maintained her usual training routine since her Olympic triumph.

  • Alysa Liu won two gold medals at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.
  • Liu quit skating in 2022 at age 16 due to burnout and a desire for a normal life before returning to the sport in 2024.

The players

Alysa Liu

A 20-year-old figure skater from the San Francisco Bay Area who won the U.S. its first women's Olympic gold medal in figure skating in 24 years at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

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What they’re saying

“I can't really compute that number. So I don't think about it.”

— Alysa Liu (PEOPLE)

“I don't scroll on Instagram. When I go on there, it's only to post, and sometimes, view my friends' posts. The only accounts I have not muted are the people I know in my life.”

— Alysa Liu (PEOPLE)

“My goal is always to share my story and to connect with people. That's just always been my goal, to have my experiences, turn them into a performance, and have my emotions be a part of that.”

— Alysa Liu (PEOPLE)

What’s next

Liu says she is looking forward to getting back to her typical life and training routine now that the Olympics are over.

The takeaway

By limiting her social media use and avoiding the internet in general, Alysa Liu has been able to maintain her grounded perspective and focus on the things that matter most to her, even after achieving tremendous success and fame as an Olympic gold medalist.