Alysa Liu Shows Us the Joy and Power of Doing Things for Fun
It’s safe to say that Alysa Liu is one of the coolest girls on the planet right now. Already a star in the ice skating world, she became an overnight sensation following the 2026 Winter Olympics and her gold medal-winning performances in Italy. Her viral exhibition gala performance to Stateside remix by PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson, which helped the song reach the top spot on the global Spotify chart, was the cherry on top for one of the world’s biggest athletes.
But beyond recognizing Alysa as a gifted skater, the 20-year-old Olympian is also commendable for how much fun she has in everything she does. If there’s one thing to take away from her, it’s Alysa’s unrelenting joy and energy she brings to skating and in her life in general. When most expect world-class athletes to be in constant competition mode, Alysa’s priority is to have fun and enjoy, and she’s bagging medals and trophies along the way. Seeing that joy radiate from a top athlete in her field shows us that finding happiness in what you do can actually take you far.
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On Her Terms
Alysa Liu has known skating most of her life. She began in the sport when she was five years old because her dad was a fan of ice skater Michelle Kwan. Early on, she showcased that she had talent and then some. By her teen years, Alysa was already winning championships and breaking records. At 13, she became the youngest-ever US national champion, and at 16, she competed in the 2022 Beijing Olympics. But the success hid the fact that Alysa was experiencing burnout and reaching her breaking point.
She’s been vocal in the past about how she no longer found joy in ice skating during that time of her life, which ultimately led her to hang up her skates and retire in 2022. The time away from the ice rink allowed Alysa to have a much-needed break and actually live her life as a teenager and do things she wanted to do, like hang out with her friends and watch anime.
Two years later, she found the spark to skate again after a skiing trip, but this time, she did so on her terms. From her outfits, routines, choreography, songs she skates to, her diet, and even her hair, Alysa finally had a say in everything about her career. And in doing so, she came back stronger. In her exercise in boundaries and self-care, not only did Alysa relight her fire, but did so in the ways she wanted to. The best part is that success quickly followed, which culminated in her becoming the first Olympic women’s figure skating champion from the US since 2002.
To watch Alysa now is to watch a young woman who cares about what she does, but does so without sacrificing herself in the process. From her signature two-toned halo hair and smiley piercing, use of upbeat songs in her routines like Donna Summer’s MacArthur Park, and general optimism, Alysa is living her best life and winning at it, too.
You Don’t Need Permission To Have Fun
Whether you’re an Olympic athlete or just going to class, there’s a lot of pressure that comes with being young. Gen Z is taught that they can’t be successful in life unless they lock in, get serious, and hustle non-stop. This hits doubly so for those who come from Asian households and have to deal with the often suffocating expectations to be seen as a success in their parents’ eyes, which usually is understood in the traditional sense of having a high-paying job in occupations like finance, business, and medicine.
This leads most to go about their lives just wanting to appease family and societal expectations. That was the case for Alysa, but that kind of lifestyle can also lead down an unhappy and unhealthy road where success feels meaningless, and achievement is rooted in someone else’s standards. When Alysa came back into the sport, it was clear that she was doing things for herself this time, and her happiness shone. Alysa skating at the Winter Olympics and winning two gold medals in the process feels good to watch because it looks like she’s enjoying what she’s doing. It’s a radiating optimism that comes from a genuine place. This was, above all else, for her.
Despite what some may say, joy and success aren’t mutually exclusive. Doing things because people told you to do so or because you think it’s what they want takes away your ability to discover things on your own and realize what speaks to your heart. You’re also going to quickly burn yourself out doing so. It’s not selfish to think about yourself, because you’re only going to hurt yourself in the long run trying to appease other people over yourself.
@todayshow “You being you was the most joyful thing I’ve watched.” #DanielRadcliffe and #AlysaLiu meet and share a sweet moment backstage at #TODAYShow
♬ original sound – TODAY Show
Yes, there is still hard work, perseverance, and determination involved, but that also shouldn’t rob you of finding enjoyment in things. Being happy doesn’t automatically mean you don’t care or aren’t taking it seriously. It shows that you’re having fun in what you do. Regardless of the outcome, it’s not a crime to have a good time and enjoy. We’d argue you learn and grow better as a result because your intentions are clearer.
Do things because you like to do them, not just because someone told you to do so. Work without personal investment just leads to hollow results. Some may say that passion and love don’t pay the bills, but they sure make the task a lot easier.
Alysa treats skating as a creative outlet instead of a chore, and you don’t need to be a world champion figure skater to see that it doesn’t hurt to add happiness to your routine. You deserve to take a break when it gets too much and enjoy what you do. In the world we live in right now, we all could use a little joy in our lives.
Photos: ALYSA LIU (via Instagram)
The post Alysa Liu Shows Us the Joy and Power of Doing Things for Fun first appeared on MEGA.
Alysa Liu Shows Us the Joy and Power of Doing Things for Fun
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