Written by Natasha Clough
The US Olympic gold medallist, Alysa Liu, has gone viral. Specifically through clips of her 2026 Olympic Winter Games Milan performances that displayed exceptional artistry and music taste.
The 20-year-old from California has achieved a level of pop culture recognition that most athletes aspire to. Her carefree approach to competition, unique personal style and most importantly, captivating song choices. At the 2026 Winter Games in Milan she secured two gold medals and proved that competing at the highest level in sport does not equate to sacrificing your well-being or having fun.
At 13, Alysa Liu was the youngest U.S. women’s national champion, making her a prodigy in American figure skating. By 16, she had quit her sport, not long after competing in the 2022 Beijing Olympics. Skating had become something she resented; relentless training schedules and constant travelling overseas meant she was missing out on being a normal teenager. It was only after spending time away from skating that she rediscovered her love for it. She remembered that it is a form of self-expression and artistry, not just competition.
Her comeback meant skating on her own terms. This meant being in control of her training schedule, not restricting her diet and gaining creative control of her programs. Liu chooses the songs she wants to skate to and the outfits she wears on the ice. Since returning to figure skating in 2024, she has expressed herself completely. With her iconic striped halo hair and smiley piercing, she doesn’t conform to the typical image of the American ‘ice princess’ figure skater. She is the ‘alt girl’ of a sport that is beginning to change with a new generation.
Liu’s song choices for her Olympic programs not only show great music taste but also an artistry that reflects her personality and individuality. She is not just working through jumps and spins with a song in the background; her connection to the music shines above all else.
The first song Liu skated to at the Olympics was ‘Promise’ by Laufey for her short program, a track from the artist’s Bewitched album. She had been using the song at competitions before Milan. A moving piano ballad by the Icelandic jazz-pop singer, the song’s lyrics convey the struggle to move on from a past love and making a promise to distance herself from this person.
On the ice, Liu glided through her routine to the ballad with an elegance and skill that appeared effortless. ‘Promise’ might also have a greater meaning for her, a way of expressing her relationship to skating. It was something she loved but distanced herself from until she broke her promise of quitting the sport.
Laufey herself has shown support for Alysa. Before her free skate at the Olympics, she received a good-luck video message from the artist she considers an inspiration. The figure skater was also seen at one of Laufey’s past concerts, announcing to her that she would be using the song again after winning the world championships with it.
Liu secured her gold medal for individual skating with her free skate to Donna Summer’s upbeat disco anthem “MacArthur Park”. Her performance is full of joy; you would hardly think she feels any pressure. She embodies the disco spirit completely, having fun dancing to the music in a gold sparkly dress. Liu said she found the 16-minute suite version, which took it to another level. The crowd was completely hyped by the end as she left the ice, shouting to the camera, “That’s what I’m fucking talking about.”
At the Olympic Exhibition Gala, Liu skated to a song by her favourite artist. The ‘Stateside’ remix off PinkPanthress’ Fancy Some More? album was a perfect addition to her skating soundtrack in Milan. No stranger to using a pop banger on the ice; she had previously skated to a Lady Gaga medley in competition.
Her routine for this performance has become as popular as the song, trending across social media. Liu’s opening dance moves are a clear reference to the ‘Stateside’ music video but she gives the song a new life as she glides across the ice. In Zara Larsson’s verse, she adds fun choreography, including a jump, for ‘Boots, that’s my ego boost’. Here, figure skating is blended effortlessly with Gen-Z pop culture.
Liu had already named PinkPanthress’ Heaven Knows as her perfect 10 out of 10 album in an interview with Pitchfork. She explained, “It gets me hyped up and it gets me in my zone… I love everything about the album”. With PinkPanthress being such a big inspiration for the figure skater, it has been great to see the pop star’s support of Alysa Liu. She told Teen Vogue, “I’m so grateful for everything she’s done for the song, and I know she’s inspiring SO many people.” Zara Larsson also expressed appreciation: “Being a part of culture and history, like I got to be with Alysa, is way more impactful to me personally than any chart position”.
Alysa Liu’s Olympic performances have led to a dramatic increase in streaming for all three songs used. Donna Summer’s ‘MacArthur Park’ skyrocketed to No.1 on the charts for the first time since 1978 while ‘Promise’ and the ‘Stateside’ remix were also boosted. It just goes to show how much art can impact other art.
Alysa’s Olympic journey marks a new era in figure skating, where joy, self-expression, and having fun while competing mean you are just as likely to win gold.
Leave a Reply