Alysa Liu for Cosmo: “This Olympics is going to be very different than the last, for sure, in many different ways. I was 16 last time and I didn’t really love skating that much. I didn’t like my programs. This time, I’m really passionate about it.”
Alysa Liu’s Return: Passion, Growth, and Olympic Dreams
original source: Cosmopolitan
In an interview with Cosmopolitan, Alysa Liu talks about making her comeback with renewed energy and a fresh outlook. After retiring at just 16 and taking time to reflect, she’s approaching her second act in skating with passion and maturity as she sets her sights on the next Olympics.
“I really do like to skate, so I can’t see myself stopping anytime soon, which is so crazy to say because I didn’t think this way for so long,” she said. “So many people ask me if I am going to retire after this year, and I really thought about their question. I cannot imagine not skating in a year. I can’t imagine next year being off the ice.”
For Alysa, her time off from skating proved to be transformative. Taking a year to step back and attend school offered clarity, but it also revealed how much skating still meant to her. “I went through a whole year of school, and during winter break, I went skiing and I realized school was hard, but it was not challenging enough for me. I got into other things, like fashion, but I never went to the gym. Skating gave me something to be strong for. I love having willpower,” she explained.
Her newfound love for the art of figure skating helped ignite her passion for the sport once again. “I used to never care about programs, what you skated to, your dresses, stuff like that. Now, I love skating dresses and helping with the design process. This sport is kind of an outlet for me. I love dance and music, so it’s everything in one.”
Looking back on her earlier career, Alysa reflected on the changes time and life experience have brought to her outlook. “Skating is a sport, but first and foremost, it’s an art form. And in order to produce the best art and have it connect with fans, you have to know yourself,” she shared. “I had almost no autonomy when I was a kid. But I was a kid, so it makes sense. I didn’t know what I wanted. It was a little bit of an irregular experience, but it was an experience that I really learned from, and I gained so much insight. I’m really glad that I’ve been through it all.”
This refreshed perspective has also influenced her creative process, with program changes giving her a sense of freedom. “My favorite thing about skating is creating a new program. That’s how my brain works. So the fact that I get to do it for so much longer in the year is just a blessing to me, because it means that I can just create more. Nothing is set, so there’s more freedom,” she said.
As she prepares for her second Olympic experience, Alysa knows this time will be different. Not just in terms of age but in her entire approach to the sport. “This Olympics is going to be very different than the last, for sure, in many different ways. Not just age – I was 16 last time – and I didn’t really love skating that much. I didn’t like my programs. I was just not in the process. This time, I’m really passionate about it and I’m getting to know a lot of the skaters a lot more than before. A lot of them are new. When I quit, a lot of people quit as well. So coming back, it’s like a whole new team. I love everyone so much. And I mean, we got some good skaters, so it’s fun to watch that as well.”
Related topics: Alysa Liu
Leave a Reply