Career Timeline of Alysa Liu: Major Achievements and Milestones

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Alysa Liu

How Alysa Liu built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Alysa Liu is a highly accomplished American figure skater. Her achievements include a 2026 Olympic Games team event gold medal, the 2025 World championship, a 2022 World bronze medal, the 2025-26 Grand Prix Final championship, multiple Grand Prix and Challenger Series medals, and two U.S. national titles. She competed in the 2022 Winter Olympics at the age of 16, finishing sixth individually. As a junior skater, she earned a World Junior bronze medal, a Junior Grand Prix Final silver medal, multiple Junior Grand Prix titles, and a U.S. junior national title.

2006: Kimmie Meissner Wins World Title

In 2006, Kimmie Meissner won the world title, a feat that no other U.S. woman had accomplished until Alysa Liu in 2025.

2008: Mirai Nagasu Wins Junior and Senior Titles

In 2008, Mirai Nagasu won the junior and senior titles back-to-back, a feat that Alysa Liu later repeated.

2012: Ashley Wagner's U.S. Titles

In 2012 and 2013, Ashley Wagner won consecutive U.S. titles, a feat that Alysa Liu later matched.

2013: Polina Edmunds wins Junior Grand Prix event

Alysa Liu's win at the Junior Grand Prix in Lake Placid marked the first time since 2013, when Polina Edmunds won, that an American won a Junior Grand Prix event.

2013: Last American Female Skaters in Junior Grand Prix Final

Before Alysa Liu, the last American female skaters to qualify for the Junior Grand Prix Final were Karen Chen and Polina Edmunds in 2013.

2013: Ashley Wagner's U.S. Titles

In 2012 and 2013, Ashley Wagner won consecutive U.S. titles, a feat that Alysa Liu later matched.

2015: Seventh Place at Central Pacific Regionals

In 2015, Alysa Liu placed seventh at the Central Pacific Regionals, competing as a juvenile skater.

2016: Youngest Intermediate Gold Medalist

At the 2016 U.S. Championships, Alysa Liu became the youngest female skater to earn the intermediate gold medal at 10 years old.

2017: Fourth Place at U.S. Championships

In 2017, Alysa Liu placed fourth at the U.S. Championships in the novice category, after leading with a 1.22 point lead in the short program.

2017: Silver Medal at Asian Open Trophy

In 2017, Alysa Liu won the silver medal at the Asian Open Trophy, finishing second to Japan's Mana Kawabe.

August 2018: Gold at Asian Open Trophy and First Triple Axel

In August 2018, Alysa Liu won gold at the Asian Open Trophy in Bangkok, Thailand, and became the youngest skater in history to perform a clean triple Axel in competition.

2018: U.S. Junior National Champion

In 2018, Alysa Liu became the U.S. junior national champion, marking an early milestone in her figure skating career.

January 25, 2019: Youngest U.S. Senior Women's Champion

On January 25, 2019, Alysa Liu became the youngest skater to win the U.S. senior women's title, breaking Tara Lipinski's record. She also became the youngest female skater to land a triple Axel at the U.S. Nationals and the first to do so during the short program at Nationals. She scored 73.89 points in her short program and posted an overall score of 217.51 after completing two consecutive triple Axels in her long program.

August 2019: Aurora Games

In August 2019, Alysa Liu competed at the inaugural Aurora Games, leading the U.S. team to first place and becoming the first American female skater to complete a quadruple Lutz in competition, although not at an ISU-recognized event.

August 2019: International Debut at Junior Grand Prix

In August 2019, Alysa Liu made her international competition debut at the ISU Junior Grand Prix in Lake Placid, where she scored 69.30 points in her short program to "Don't Rain on My Parade" by Barbra Streisand.

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December 2019: Featured on Cover of International Figure Skating Magazine

In December 2019, Alysa Liu was selected to be on the cover of the December 2019 edition of International Figure Skating Magazine.

2019: Began Working with Massimo Scali

Alysa Liu began working with Massimo Scali in 2019, prior to her more extensive coaching change announcement on June 22, 2020.

2019: Made Appearances on Various Shows

Following her win at the 2019 U.S. Championships, Alysa Liu made appearances on Today, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, and the 2019 Kids' Choice Awards, where she presented an award to Lindsey Vonn.

2019: Two-Time U.S. National Champion

In 2019, Alysa Liu became a two-time U.S. national champion, highlighting her dominance in the sport at a young age.

2019: Performed in Sun Valley on Ice

In 2019, Alysa Liu performed in the Sun Valley on Ice summer shows.

2019: Silver Medal at Junior Grand Prix Final

In 2019, Alysa Liu won the silver medal at the Junior Grand Prix Final, behind Russia's Kamila Valieva and ahead of Daria Usacheva.

2019: Working on Skating Skills and Choreography

In 2019, after U.S. Nationals, Alysa Liu worked on her skating skills and choreography with Carolina Kostner in Rome. She also began working with Massimo Scali in Oakland on her skills and choreography.

June 22, 2020: Coaching Change Announcement

On June 22, 2020, Alysa Liu announced that she would be changing coaches from Laura Lipetsky to Phillip DiGuglielmo and Massimo Scali. She would also work with Canadian coaches Lori Nichol and Lee Barkell via video conferences and occasional travels to Toronto, Canada.

December 11, 2020: Jeremy Abbott Joins Coaching Team

On December 11, 2020, Alysa Liu announced that Jeremy Abbott, a former four-time US men's champion, was joining her coaching team.

December 2020: Resuming Training on Ultra-C Elements

As of December 2020, Alysa Liu resumed training on her more difficult ultra-C elements, including the triple Axel, in preparation for the next season.

December 2020: Joined Team Toyota

In early December 2020, Team Toyota announced Alysa Liu as one of the new additions to its roster of sponsored athletes.

2020: Bronze at World Junior Championships

In 2020, Alysa Liu competed at the World Junior Championships, placing third behind Kamila Valieva and Daria Usacheva. She earned 67.52 points in the short program and a technical score of 137.31 points in the long program.

2020: Limited International Competition and Domestic ISP Points Challenge

In 2020, Alysa Liu faced limited international competition opportunities due to the COVID-19 pandemic and was age-ineligible for senior Grand Prix competitions. She placed fourth in the domestic ISP Points Challenge and sixth at the 2020 Las Vegas Invitational after a hip injury.

2020: Wins 2020 U.S. Championships

In 2020, Alysa Liu won the U.S. Championships with a score of 235.52, becoming the youngest two-time women's U.S. champion and the first woman in seven years to win back-to-back U.S. championships. She landed two triple Axels and six other triple jumps. She also failed to be the first woman at U.S. Nationals to successfully complete a quadruple Lutz.

2020: World Junior Bronze Medalist

In 2020, Alysa Liu won the bronze medal at the World Junior Championships, adding to her list of achievements at the junior level.

2020: 2019-2020 Season

The 2019-2020 was a significant season for Alysa Liu where she participated in the Aurora Games in August 2019 and showcased her skills.

June 19, 2021: Liu posts video of Triple Axel and Quad Lutz attempt

On June 19, 2021, Alysa Liu posted an Instagram story showing a combined video of her attempts to land a triple Axel and quad lutz in training for the upcoming 2021-22 season.

August 30, 2021: Selected to Compete at 2021 CS Nebelhorn Trophy

On August 30, 2021, US Figure Skating announced that Alysa Liu would compete at the 2021 CS Nebelhorn Trophy to secure a third berth for American women at the 2022 Winter Olympics. She placed first in both segments, winning the gold medal and securing an Olympic place. She was unhappy with her singled free skate attempt at a triple Axel.

2021: Tied Personal Best at US Championships

In 2021, Alysa Liu achieved a personal best score of 76.36 at the US Championships, which she tied in a later competition.

2021: Grand Prix Debut

In 2021, Alysa Liu made her senior Grand Prix debut at the 2021 Skate Canada International, placing fifth overall. At the 2021 NHK Trophy, she finished in fourth place.

2021: Performed in Sun Valley on Ice

In 2021, Alysa Liu performed in the Sun Valley on Ice summer shows.

2021: Wins 2021 CS Lombardia Trophy

In 2021, Alysa Liu won the CS Lombardia Trophy by over 32 points, successfully landing a triple Axel and receiving new personal bests. This was her debut on the ISU Challenger series.

2021: Wins Cranberry Cup

In 2021, Alysa Liu won the Cranberry Cup, a Senior B competition at the Skating Club of Boston, with a total score of 205.74. She placed first in both the short and free programs, though she fell on a triple Axel attempt in the free skate.

2021: Fires Coaches and Moves to Colorado

Two days after her fourth-place finish at the 2021 NHK Trophy, Alysa Liu's father decided to fire coaches Philip DiGuglielmo and Massimo Scali, so that Liu could move to Colorado Springs, Colorado, and begin working with Christy Krall, Drew Meekins, and Viktor Pfeifer.

April 9, 2022: Announces Retirement from Figure Skating

On April 9, 2022, Alysa Liu announced her retirement from figure skating on Instagram. She felt satisfied with her career, had completed her goals, and was "moving on with [her] life". She stated that she didn't enjoy skating a lot of the time.

2022: Qualifying for the 2022 Winter Olympics

Alysa Liu competed to secure a third berth for American women at the 2022 Winter Olympics.

2022: World Bronze Medalist

In 2022, Alysa Liu secured a bronze medal at the World Championships, adding to her list of accomplishments.

2022: Stepped Away from Sport

In 2022, Alysa Liu stepped away from the sport.

2022: Withdraws from U.S. Championships, Petitioned for Olympic Team

In 2022, at the U.S. Championships, Alysa Liu placed third in the short program but had to withdraw after testing positive for COVID-19. She successfully petitioned to be included on the 2022 U.S. Winter Olympic team and was the youngest athlete named to the team.

2022: Competes at 2022 Winter Olympics

In 2022, at the Winter Olympics, Alysa Liu placed eighth in the short program and moved up to seventh place in the free skate, despite underrotating her triple Axel attempt. She skated at the exhibition gala with a program to "Loco" by Itzy, choreographed on-site by Jean-Luc Baker. Itzy acknowledged Liu's performance on social media.

2022: Wins Bronze at 2022 World Championships

In 2022, at the World Championships, Alysa Liu won the bronze medal, becoming the first American woman to medal at the World Championships since Ashley Wagner in 2016. She landed a triple Axel with an under rotation in the free skate.

2022: Signed Deal with American Girl and Modeled Ralph Lauren

In 2022, leading up to the Winter Olympics in Beijing, Alysa Liu signed a deal with toy manufacturer American Girl, and modeled Ralph Lauren's collection for Team USA's opening ceremony uniforms.

2022: Toured with Stars on Ice

In the spring of 2022, after her initial retirement announcement, Alysa Liu toured the U.S. with Stars on Ice.

March 1, 2024: Announces Comeback to Figure Skating

On March 1, 2024, Alysa Liu posted a video on her Instagram announcing her return to figure skating for the 2024-25 season. She stated skiing gave her an adrenaline rush similar to skating, which led her to try skating again and rediscovering her ability to do a double Axel.

October 2024: Competes at 2024 CS Budapest Trophy

In October 2024, Alysa Liu competed at the 2024 CS Budapest Trophy, her first competition since March 2022. She won the gold medal, ranking first in both the short program and overall. She under-rotated three jumps during the event.

2024: Competes in the 2024-25 Grand Prix Series

In 2024, Alysa Liu competed in the 2024-25 Grand Prix series, placing second in the short program at 2024 Skate Canada International but seventh in the free skate, finishing sixth overall. She followed this with a fourth-place finish at the 2024 NHK Trophy. Liu stated she was more present, happy, and into training this time.

2024: Won Gold Medal at CS Golden Spin of Zagreb

In early December 2024, Alysa Liu won the gold medal at the CS Golden Spin of Zagreb.

May 2025: Rejoined Stars on Ice

In May 2025, Alysa Liu rejoined Stars on Ice for its US leg.

2025: Wins World Title

At the 2025 World Championships in Boston, Alysa Liu became the first U.S. woman to win the world title since Kimmie Meissner in 2006.

2025: World Champion

In 2025, Alysa Liu became the World champion, demonstrating her excellence in figure skating.

2025: Competed at Skate America

In 2025, Alysa Liu competed at Skate America, edging out Rinka Watanabe for the gold medal. She finished second in the short program but first in the free skate and overall. She expressed satisfaction with the results.

2025: Competed at Four Continents Championships

In 2025, Alysa Liu competed at the Four Continents Championships in Seoul, South Korea, placing fourth in both the short and free program segments, ultimately finishing fourth overall, 1.48 points behind the bronze medalist. She expressed satisfaction with her performance.

2025: Represented Team U.S.A. at World Team Trophy

In 2025, Alysa Liu represented Team U.S.A. at the World Team Trophy, winning both the short and free program segments and contributing to Team U.S.A.'s gold medal win overall. Liu expressed her enjoyment of the team event and the camaraderie it fostered.

2025: Competed at US Championships

In January 2025, Alysa Liu competed at the US Championships, placing first in the short program and second in the free skate and overall. She expressed enthusiasm regarding her return to U.S. Nationals and was happy with her performance.

2025: Discarded Olympic Season Short Program

In late September 2025, Alysa Liu announced that she would discard her Olympic season short program to the song "This Is How It Feels" by D4vd and Laufey, due to external issues related to the artist D4vd, and would pursue a different direction aligned with her values.

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2026: Returned to The Tonight Show and Featured on 60 Minutes

Before the 2026 Winter Olympics, Alysa Liu returned to The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and was featured on 60 Minutes.

2026: Partnered with Nike and Samsung Galaxy

Heading into the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina, Alysa Liu partnered with Nike and Samsung Galaxy. She also appeared in a commercial for Gillette Venus.

2026: Olympic Games Team Event Gold Medalist

In 2026, Alysa Liu won a gold medal in the team event at the Olympic Games, a significant achievement in her career.

2026: Announced New Free Program and Competed at U.S. Championships

In early January 2026, it was announced that Liu had revamped her free program and would debut it at the U.S. Championships. At the U.S. Championships, Alysa Liu won the silver medal behind Amber Glenn and was subsequently named to the U.S. team for the 2026 Winter Olympics. She later announced she would use her "MacArthur Park" free program at the Olympic Games.

2026: Participated in Winter Olympics Team Event

On February 6, 2026, Alysa Liu participated in the 2026 Winter Olympics Figure Skating Team Event, placing second in the short program. Liu's result combined with those of her teammates secured an Olympic gold medal for Team United States of America. She expressed her love of the team experience.