Alysa Liu returns to the Olympics with a renewed outlook on life

Alysa Liu returned to the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics after a two-year break and a 2025 world title, and her short program on opening day helped keep the U.S. team in the lead.

Alysa Liu is competing at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics as part of the U.S. team with a different perspective on skating and life. She previously attended the 2022 Beijing Games at 16 and later stepped away from the sport. After a two-year break she returned to competition, won the 2025 world title, and says she now wants to be at the Games rather than simply endure them. Key facts: - Liu skated the short program on opening day and placed second behind Kaori Sakamoto of Japan. - Her performance contributed to the U.S. team holding the lead with three of eight programs completed in the team event. - Liu retired after the 2022 Olympics, took a two-year break, then won the 2025 world championship. - New age rules now require skaters to be at least 17 for top-level international events; of the nine skaters who would have been too young in 2022, Liu is the only one competing again in 2026. - Liu nicknamed herself and teammates Amber Glenn and Isabeau Levito the "Blade Angels." Summary: Liu's return highlights a personal shift from feeling overwhelmed as a teenager to embracing the Games with a clearer sense of self, and her short program helped the United States lead the team competition on the opening day. The team event continues with additional programs to be completed in the coming sessions.