The 20-year-old American figure skating champion won two golds at Milano Cortina, but her first medal fell off its ribbon, forcing her to return the prize and get it fixed
One of Alysa Liu’s medals was damaged(Image: Getty Images)
Team USA’s figure skating phenom Alysa Liu captured two gold medals at the Winter Olympics.
However, the 20-year-old had to return her first medal after it broke and needed to be replaced. Liu delivered breathtaking performances at the Milano Cortina Games, attracting widespread attention for her unique style and effortless skating.
She triumphed in the Team Event before capturing the women’s individual crown, marking America’s first victory in the discipline in over 20 years. Yet during celebrations of her initial triumph, her medal came loose from its ribbon. She wasn’t alone in experiencing faulty hardware, as several Olympians reported that their medals had detached from their ribbons.
Liu reveals she had to surrender the damaged medal for a replacement. But speaking to Overtime, she admits she was reluctant to part with it and actually preferred the flawed version.
“I was just jumping up and down, as one does to celebrate, and it just dropped,” she said. “It just literally fell off of the ribbon. It got very scratched up… pretty dented.
“I actually liked it when it was off the ribbon, but that’s not allowed. I had to give it in. I was like, ‘Can’t you just fix this one?’ I’m attached. But it’s OK, I’m detached. Just like it was.”
Alysa Liu was one of Team USA’s biggest stars at the Winter Olympics(Image: Getty Images)
The 20-year-old is part of a trio that fans have dubbed America’s ‘Blade Angels.’
Alongside Amber Glenn and Isabeau Levito, she enjoyed a triumphant Games filled with multiple viral moments, with all three being current or former American champions.
Liu initially stepped away from competition after her performance at the 2022 Beijing Games, citing exhaustion. However, she returned in 2024 and generated significant attention at these Games.
She won over crowds in Italy and audiences back home with her personal-best Individual score of 226.79.
Her free skate to a disco-influenced version of Donna Summer’s ‘MacArthur Park’ became the defining highlight as she secured gold.
When asked about possibly leaving the sport again after the Games’ closing ceremony, Liu told NBC: “I have no plans to leave (figure skating), yet. I can’t imagine not skating next year.
“These titles are huge, but I don’t want them to overshadow who I am and what I do and what I am all about. Winning isn’t all that, and neither is losing. Through retirement, I realised I am a little bit like a creative person, and I have these ideas.
“I have my own sense of fashion and I’m a little bit stubborn with it. I love choreography and music and I do it on my own terms. No one tells me what to do.”
