Traditionally, figure skating has been a rigid, clear-cut, and extremely strict sport adhering to rigid expectations. Of course, these expectations have ebbed and fluctuated over time, yet certain components have remained fundamentally constant. Music has long been expected to be graceful; just as practical and classical as the routine it is backing.
Expectations for hair are simplistic as well as minimalistic; pinned back in a refined (if not borderline insipid) manner, and outfits have typically echoed this sentiment – that is, until now.
Alysa Liu, a 20-year-old record-breaking figure skater, went viral following her return to professional figure skating after retiring four years prior in an effort to improve her mental health and focus on enjoying her transient teenage years.
Now, she’s back and more confident than ever, as one can see even by simply looking at her.
Her hair is perhaps the most striking thing about her; armpit length with contrasting dark and light stripes starting at her scalp and continuing to her ends. As she smiles, a horseshoe-shaped smiley piercing becomes visible, furthering her sharply unique look.
Having an athlete that values self-expression even when encouraged to tamp it down and adhere to the clean, traditional aesthetic expected of female figure skaters encourages other athletes to be themselves and, in turn, teaches young hopeful athletes that they do not need to sacrifice their idiosyncrasies in order to be successful.
“I’m hoping [Alysa Liu will] open up the conversation for allowing more personality in figure skating,” said ninth grade history teacher Daisy Altamirano.
When asked what her terms for returning to the ice rink were, Liu said: “I get to pick my own program music; I get to help with the creative process of the program. No one’s gonna starve me; tell me what I can and can’t eat.”
A multi-award-winning Olympic champion being an unwavering advocate for self-prioritization and mental wellness is, to put it simply, revolutionary. “She’s so influential because she’s really unapologetically herself,” said Ms. Altamirano.
On the ice, Alysa Liu is just as exciting. Her musical choices cater to her personal tastes – “Promise” by Laufey backed her Olympics short program, and her
gold-winning free program was set to Donna Summer’s “MacArthur Park Suite” – and her skating finds the perfect balance of natural, seemingly spontaneous movements and excellent precision.
She skates with the visible, inimitable joy countless professional athletes lose as their profession becomes less about self-expression and more about audience satisfaction rates.
“Doing things for yourself is something that can be really hard. It’s hard to choose yourself and what you care about and put yourself first,” said Ms. Altamirano.
Alysa Liu is not only impactful on the ice – she has also impacted certain elements of music and fashion.
“Stateside” by PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson shot to number one on Spotify’s Global Daily Chart following Liu’s Olympic exhibition gala performance set to the song.
Additionally, two weeks ago, Laufey released a music video for her new song “Madwoman,” starring not only Laufey herself but also Hudson Williams, Megan Skiendel of KATSEYE, Lola Tung, and, of course, Alysa Liu.
Alysa Liu’s artistic flair in her appearance and outfits has gone viral as well. She prides herself on maintaining her authenticity in both a mental and visual sense – something we can all take inspiration from.
“You can see that her personality is really coming through by how she [presents herself], and I hope that is true for more figure skaters and women in general going on,” said Ms. Altamirano.
