Alysa Liu, 20, won the United States’ first Olympic ladies’ singles figure-skating gold since 1998, then told Cosmopolitan she is single by choice while rebuilding her career after a two-year retirement.
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Liu Takes Gold in Milan Free Skate
The Californian landed seven triples and two quads in Saturday’s free skate, scoring 164.82 points for a 238.45 total that edged Japan’s Mone Chiba by 4.12. The victory ended a 14-month comeback that began when Liu un-retired in December 2024, having last competed at the 2022 World Championships before burnout and growth spurts pushed her away from elite rinks.
Back to 5 a.m. Practices in Oakland
Liu returned to twice-daily sessions last August at Oakland Ice Center under coach Massimo Scali, often unlocking the doors at 5:00 a.m. to run through programs before the public arrived. Rebuilding muscle memory, she said, felt “like translating a language I once spoke fluently.” Two extra inches and ten added pounds required fresh jump timing; she spent six weeks on a harness before attempting triple axels unassisted.
Gold Medal Revives Personal Questions
Victory in Milan refocused attention on Liu’s life away from triple lutzes. In a pre-Games interview, she said 40-hour training weeks and constant travel leave little room for dating. “I choose friendships over relationships any day,” Liu noted, adding that high personal standards and a packed calendar make courtship impractical for now. She turns 21 in August.
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Travel Schedule Limits Dating Options
Elite figure skating mirrors Olympic gymnastics: athletes relocate, homeschool, and wedge physio between ballet and on-ice reps. Liu estimated she spends 220 days a year on the road, complicating traditional dating rhythms. “If I were to date someone, we’d each have to make tons of sacrifices,” she told the magazine, repeating a calculation familiar to young stars juggling sponsor shoots and media calls.
2030 Games Decision Still Pending
With the 2026 cycle over, Liu must decide whether to defend her title or join professional tours that can pay seven-figure stipends. U.S. Figure Skating high-performance director Mitch Moyer already lists her in the 2027 world-team projection, citing consistency and marketability. Liu plans to finish liberal-arts coursework online this spring and “let the ice tell me” whether Milan was the climax or the midpoint of her story.
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Quick Resources
- U.S. Figure Skating Fan Zone – Schedules, athlete bios, Grand Prix ticket information
- Olympic Channel 2026 Replay Hub – Free on-demand streams of every Milan skating program
- Cosmopolitan February cover story – Full Liu interview and behind-the-scenes photos
- Oakland Ice Center calendar – Public skate times; Liu occasionally coaches Saturday mornings
Source materials: U.S. Figure Skating, Olympic Channel, Cosmopolitan, Oakland Ice Center
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