Olympic Gold Medalist Alysa Liu Says the Best Advice She’d Give Her Younger Self Is Nothing At All
After winning gold in women’s figure skating at the 2026 Winter Olympics, Alysa Liu has been sharing a message that reaches well beyond the ice rink: setbacks are not the end of the story. They are part of it. And sometimes, stepping away from what you love is exactly what it takes to come back stronger.
In a series of interviews following her victory, Liu spoke candidly about burnout, the courage it took to walk away from elite competition as a teenager, and why she wouldn’t change any of it.
What She’d Tell Her Younger Self
During a March 2 appearance on Today, co-anchor Dylan Dreyer asked Liu a question most athletes hear after reaching the top: What would you tell your younger self?
Liu’s answer was striking in its simplicity.
“Nothing… she’s got it; she will figure it out. She will go through it, and like, I don’t want to mess it up,” Liu said.
Rather than wishing she could have avoided the difficult chapters of her career, she embraced them. Every challenge, every low point, every moment of doubt — all of it, she suggested, was necessary to get her where she is today.
A Comeback Years in the Making
Liu’s journey to Olympic gold was far from conventional. She previously retired from figure skating at age 16 following the Beijing Olympics, citing burnout and a desire to prioritize her mental well-being. For a young athlete competing on the world’s biggest stage, walking away required its own kind of bravery.
That decision could have easily been the final chapter of her skating career. Instead, after taking time away from the sport, Liu returned to competition and won Olympic gold in 2026.
Her comeback makes a case that rest and recovery are not signs of weakness — that the most important thing an athlete can do is recognize when they need to pause.
Her Message to Parents: Don’t Force It
One of the most pointed pieces of guidance Liu offered during her Today interview was directed at parents whose children may want to leave their sport.
“Don’t,” she told Today. “It does not work. The kid knows himself pretty well, and it’s just never good to force anything.”
The pressure to keep children in competitive activities — whether for scholarships, social expectations, or a parent’s own aspirations — is something countless households face. Liu’s perspective, shaped by her own experience, offers a blunt counterpoint: forcing a child to continue when they are struggling does more harm than good.
She went further, speaking to young athletes who may be in the position she once found herself in — exhausted, overwhelmed, and uncertain about whether to continue.
“If it’s really such a struggle, I would say definitely take that break. Don’t be scared to do that. Don’t be scared of failure,” she said. “Trying new things will definitely give you a different outcome.”
Those words — “don’t be scared of failure” — cut to the heart of a fear that holds back people in every walk of life. Liu was talking about more than skating. She was talking about the courage it takes to step into the unknown, to try something different, and to trust that the outcome will be worth it.
‘Don’t Try to Be the Next Me’
Speaking to CBS News, Liu offered guidance to skaters hoping to follow in her footsteps — and it was not what many might expect from a newly crowned Olympic champion.
“Don’t try to be the next me,” Liu said.
Liu’s path worked because it was uniquely hers. She retired young, came back on her own terms, and won gold not by following someone else’s blueprint but by forging her own. Her advice to the next generation: find your own way rather than trying to replicate hers.
She also expressed hope that her story could reach beyond the skating world.
“I hope [my story is] inspiring, and I hope it allows for others to…break through more,” she said.
In a culture that often rewards relentless hustle, one of the most unexpected pieces of advice from a gold medalist was about the value of stillness.
Liu emphasized the importance of self-reflection, advising, “At the end of the day, take some time for yourself. Spend time alone. I think it really helped me.”
Production of this article included the use of AI. It was reviewed and edited by a team of content specialists.
