Performance vs Pain: Which do figure skating fans revere more?
The 2026 Olympics sparked interest and conversation among viewers worldwide, allowing controversies to fester. The Olympics is no stranger to this; from confronting doping scandals to addressing global political issues, athletes and their federations are held to impeccably high standards onstage and off it. Selected winners have been divisive, with many insisting that some scored elements should matter more than others, or arguing that some fail to appropriately represent their country. One of the athletes seemed to attract more attention than others, and her performance on the ice might be the least discussed part of her gold-medal win.
Alysa Liu, the 20-year old Chinese-American USA figure skating athlete, brought home America’s first Women’s Singles Olympic gold medal in over 20 years. She differs from many competing in the same league by the way she chooses to present herself, through style and demeanour, as well as in her approach going into the Olympics and towards returning to her sport as a whole.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ajeIYu7evE
“I like fun, and skating is really fun. I want to do it all the time. I connect with everything, but I’m not attached to anything. I’m more present now– I guess last time I was constantly daydreaming about quitting and what life would be like if I wasn’t an athlete.”
In addition to elaborating on her unconventional career comeback, she has shared her experience in getting an ADHD diagnosis. Her devoted coach and choreographer openly embrace her idiosyncratic way of working.
“It doesn’t matter if I think she needs to be more focused. This way of working works for her because it feeds her personality and feeds her energy,” her coach Scali says. “Alysa is joy.”
Her mannerisms, paired with her athletic prowess, have proven to be endearing. Posts shared of and about her on the internet have garnered hundreds of thousands of likes regularly since January of this year. However, a point of contention has been whether or not she deserved it, or even deserved competing in the Olympics at all. Off the ice, she stands up for herself and fellow athletes in pursuing their dreams without compromising themselves. Where, however, does she stand compared to other skaters, on the ice?
Liu has won seven golds, three silvers, and two bronzes since starting her career at just five years old and beginning competing at seven. Milan Cortina was her second Olympics; she came in sixth in Beijing in 2022. Both nationally in the US and internationally, she has been recognised as a decorated champion, and has shown healthy sportsmanship with co-competitors. With all these achievements and great social track record, what has made her an unpopular Olympic favourite among some figure skating fans?
It is impossible to talk about Olympic figure skating without talking about Russia. Eteri Tutberidze, the federation’s most infamous coach, is known for having brought innumerable awards home with very young skaters, with many under her wing breaking global scoring records before reaching 18. Many expressed longing for this level of execution to return, highlighting the massive ‘drop’ between years; Alexandra Trusova, the Olympic silver medalist in 2022, scored a 251.73 overall herself then, and Liu scored 226.79 in 2026. Although some assert that this reflects a decline in athletic ability or rigour, many contend this by reminding viewers of Tutberidze’s skaters’ reported ‘incidents’– including illegal performance enhancers, severe injuries, and significantly delayed puberty.
Liu has been an advocate for taking the time to understand herself better after spending most of her formative years focusing on others/ wishes. Many other athletes, some even being the ones people pitch as far surpassing Liu in skill, share similar sentiments. Perhaps to some, one’s attitude towards winning and their process striving for it will never be enough. Reassuringly, prominent figures in these spaces have come around to believing that prioritizing physical and mental health should no longer be synonymous with ‘failure’.
By Mina Baehaki | Blog Committee Member
