Alysa Liu
She rewrote the record books as a teenager, becoming the youngest U.S. champion ever and then delivering America's first women's Olympic figure skating gold in over a decade.
Born 2005 (age 21)·American figure skater·Birthday: August 8·Generation Z
Biography
Alysa Liu exploded onto the figure skating scene not just as a prodigy, but as a force that redefined what was possible for American women in the sport. Born in 2005, she became the youngest U.S. national champion in history at age 13, a title she defended the following year. Her early career was marked by a technical audacity, landing triple Axels when few of her peers attempted them. After a period of adjustment and growth, her persistence culminated in a staggering 2026 Olympic performance in Milan-Cortina, where she stood atop the podium in both the individual and team events, ending a long gold-medal drought for the U.S. women. Liu's journey from record-setting child star to Olympic champion showcased a rare blend of precocious talent and enduring competitive grit.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Alysa was born in 2005, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Alysa Was Born
The biggest hits of 2005
#1 Movie
Star Wars: Episode III
Best Picture
Crash
#1 TV Show
American Idol
Alysa's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
2005Born
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2010Started school
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2018Became a teenager
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2021Could drive
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2023Could vote
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Turned 21
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became the youngest U.S. national figure skating champion in history at age 13 in 2019.
- Won the gold medal in women's singles at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina.
- Captured the World Figure Skating Championships title in 2025.
- Earned an Olympic gold medal in the team event at the 2026 Winter Games.
- Secured a bronze medal at the 2022 World Championships.
Did You Know?
Her father, Arthur Liu, is an immigration lawyer who famously represented her in a custody case that went to the California Supreme Court.
She was coached by Laura Lipetsky, who also taught her how to skate when she was just five years old.
Liu is fluent in Mandarin.
“I just want to land my triple axel clean.”
