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February 20, 2026
On February 19th, 2026, American figure skater Alysa Liu made history. By becoming the Olympic champion in women’s figure skating at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on Thursday, Liu became the first American woman to win a gold medal for Olympic figure skating since 2002. She was also the first American woman to win a medal overall since 2006 when Sasha Cohen won silver.
However, Liu is not only iconic in her skill for her sport and her amazing hairstyle. The spotlight was put on her clear, radiating confidence and euphoria from start to finish. Her performance shines, and it is apparent to the millions of viewers of her performance that she is not merely there for a medal, as she made very clear in interviews before the event. She was simply there to enjoy the outcome of what she had worked hard for and to express herself through her method of art: skating. Her view of skating not as a job, not as an obligation, but art - her art - is a refreshing perspective for athletes and non-athletes alike.
Liu’s career is not quite like an average athlete. She started skating when she was five years old, and at sixteen, walked away from the sport after placing sixth in the 2022 Olympics. Reason? She simply did not find it enjoyable anymore. So without a second glance, Liu left - for no other purpose but to protect her happiness. When she came back to skating years later, her motivation was not need nor external pressure. It was sheer want and personal desire. This caused Liu to be the carefree soul she is, arguably distinguishable from the rest of the figure skating world. And with that passion, personal motivation, and pure zeal - she secured the title of the Olympic champion in 2026.
This brings us to the question: how many of us are truly living our lives to the fullest in terms of our mental health and sheer personal joy? Are we not all afraid to deviate the social standard and go after whatever the deepest part in our heart desires? We hide behind the excuses of considering reality (“it’s not realistic”) ; the excuses of financial capacity (“I have to earn a living, so I can’t quit my job even if it makes me unhappy”) ; or even the excuse of the sunk-cost fallacy (“I’ve done this for too long to quit”). Of course, all career choices are commendable and all pursuits are brave. However, it is time for us to question if we are merely making our life choices based on what others expect of us and not being daring enough to shoot for the stars - even if that may mean us losing it all.
Liu says in an interview: “I want to be a storyteller.” She remarks, “I think my story is pretty cool and so I hope that inspires some people as well.’’ And tell her story she does. Her fearlessness in pursuing her individual joy and refusing to comply with social norms and expectations are what many women can learn from today. Her screaming “That’s what I’m f*cking talking about” right after her skating straight into the camera for everyone in the world to hear, in addition to her unrestricted demeanor in showing her happiness after getting her record-breaking score, completely rejects the humility and silence that most female athletes have been trained to showcase. Borrowing the words of Mark Manson, she is truly the epitome of the subtle art of not giving a f*ck - and winning while at it.
This is a great reminder for all women who were told to be silent in their pursuits and humble in their accomplishments. You do not have to be humble, you do not have to stay quiet. You can do whatever you want to do, decide whatever you wish for your future, and most importantly, be loud and proud about anything and everything that you are accomplishing. Society will be condescending, calling you annoying, an egomaniac, someone who is too much and does not belong. But that is because you do not fit in their periphery, and their periphery is very small. Do not close yourself into a box. That is the biggest lesson Alysa Liu gives us today. Be you, do what makes you happy, and your own definition of success will find its way to you.
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