The Winter Olympic Games may have come to a close, but the Alysa Liu fever taking over America has only just begun.

Taking home two gold medals in this year’s games, Liu is one of the most decorated and successful skaters in modern times, all while amassing a growing social media following and gaining attention for her style and personality off the ice.

“She’s so cool,” sophomore Jillian Stover said. “I follow her on Instagram, and I love her style.”

In recent weeks, Liu has amassed over 7 million followers on Instagram, been on the cover of Teen Vogue and been interviewed for numerous sports and pop culture publications.

Part of the appeal with Liu is how different she is from other athletes, particularly her figure skating counterparts. She has an alternative style of dress, both on and off the ice, complete with a lip piercing and striped, bleached hair.

“I love Alysa,” freshman Juliet Coyne said. “Her outfits are so interesting, and she makes skating look really fun.” 

Liu is also a rare glimpse of individuality in an industry where control is everything. After making her return to skating, having previously retired, she asserted that it would be on her own terms. She picks the music she skates to, weighs in  on her outfits and refuses to let any coaches put her on a diet.

“We can’t pick our hair styles and we all have to wear the same uniforms so we all look the same,” sophomore cheerleader Charlotte Trump said.

Cheer, dance and skating are all very similar in the regard that they do not allow much room for personalization or uniqueness. Athletes are required to strive for uniformity, and styles are strategically designed to blend in. This, however, is where Liu differs from the norm by making her own choices and dressing for herself.

Yet, Liu’s ascent to where she is now had been unconventional. She was a promising skater at a young age, having won nationals at 13 and qualifying for the Beijing Olympics at 16.

But all of that came crashing down when only a few months after the Beijing Games, she went into retirement, having suffered severe PTSD and mental complications, making her unable to skate.

But in 2024, Liu announced her return to skating, with the condition that everything would be on her own terms. Through making creative and professional decisions for herself, Liu secured herself two gold medals in the Olympics; one in women’s singles and one in the team event.

Liu’s career and the message she sends through being herself has inspired audiences worldwide and brought about new conversations in the figure skating industry, where a new generation of skaters are being told that prioritizing their own health and taking breaks is what really wins you gold.

“She has such an interesting story as an athlete,” sophomore Katelyn Haggard said. “It’s really nice to see it and to support her.”