American figure skating star Alysa Liu’s dream to win an Olympic gold medal came true at the 2026 Winter Games. However, it came with an unexpected twist. The celebration quickly turned into a lighthearted mishap, leaving Liu with a dented medal.
Liu played a pivotal role in Team USA’s gold-medal victory in the figure skating team event on February 6 in Milan-Cortina. She delivered a composed and confident short program performance, earning 74.90 points, helping the US maintain its lead and secure the top step of the podium.
It marked a triumphant Olympic debut for the two-time US national champion, who has already emerged as one of the faces of the next generation in American figure skating. But shortly after the medal ceremony, things took an unexpected turn.
Speaking to reporters, Liu revealed that her original gold medal didn’t survive the excitement of the moment. It fell down and was left in less than pristine condition. In a quirky twist, she admitted she actually grew fond of the damaged version, saying:
“I was just jumping up and down, as one does to celebrate, and it just dropped. It just literally fell off of the ribbon. It got really scratched up. Very dented and not very dented, but pretty dented. And I actually liked it when it was off the ribbon, but that’s not allowed. That would be a problem for today if I couldn’t wear it,” said Alysa Liu.
When further asked if she got to keep the damaged one, she replied:
“No, I have to give it in. I know. I was like, can’t you just fix this one?. I’m attached, but it’s OK. I’m detached. Just like it was.”
Alysa Liu opened up about her 2022 Beijing Olympics experience
Before she became an Olympic gold medalist in 2026, Alysa Liu’s first taste of the Winter Games came in Beijing 2022, and she remembers it as one of the happiest periods of her life. Looking back at her Olympic debut in a conversation with 60 Minutes, she revealed that she approached the competition with a remarkably relaxed mindset, free from the weight of expectations that often follow elite athletes.
Liu further spoke about enjoying her last competition, as she retired just after the Olympics at the age of 16.
“Beijing was really good memory. I did not take it seriously at all. Well, I made it there already. That was what the goal was like. My dream wasn’t to do like, I mean, I wanted to do good programs and I did do good programs, but I was like, I made it. This is it. Like now, like nothing. Nothing can affect my mood. Like I was already so happy, not even the competition could affect me. The competition couldn’t bring me down. Nothing could, I was just happy to be there,” said Alysa Liu.
She added:
“And so I was really trying to live it up also because at that point I was, this is my last competition. So I was honestly very excited for it to be my last and for it to be such a big one. And it was also in China. So the food I was so used to because all I eat is like Chinese food basically. And I was there with my friends, and it was a great time. We had cool gear that Ralph Lauren gave us. Like, it was a blast. Like I’d never experienced anything like that up until that point.”
Liu’s interview with 60 minutes
Up next, Alysa Liu will next be seen competing in the women’s single skating short program on February 17, which is scheduled to take place at 12:45 pm (EST).
Read More:
Lindsey Vonn Breaks Silence, Shares Heartfelt Update After Violent 2026 Winter Olympics Crash
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in tennis, college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
