Olympic Champion Alysa Liu Sets the Record Straight on the Right Way to Say Her Name

09 March 2026

Gold medallist Alysa Liu of United States celebrates with her national flag after winning the Women Single Skating REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

In the whirlwind of fame that followed her remarkable Olympic triumph, figure skating star Alysa Liu has been answering countless questions about her career, her comeback and the unforgettable performances that earned her global attention. Yet amid the celebrations and interviews, one surprisingly simple topic kept coming up again and again. People around the world have been mispronouncing her name. Now the 20 year old Olympic champion has decided to set the record straight once and for all.

Liu recently revealed that many fans, commentators and even members of the media have been saying her name incorrectly for years. The confusion largely centers around her last name, which many people pronounce as “Lu.” In reality, the correct pronunciation is “Lee oh,” a subtle but important difference that reflects the Chinese origins of her family name.

The clarification came during interviews following her historic performance at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, where Liu captured gold in women’s singles and also helped Team USA win gold in the team event. Her victory marked the first time in 24 years that an American woman had won Olympic gold in figure skating, making her one of the most celebrated athletes of the Games.

Despite the global spotlight that followed, Liu’s attitude toward the mispronunciation of her name has remained surprisingly relaxed. She admitted that she does not mind when people get it wrong and understands why it happens. Many English speakers instinctively simplify unfamiliar pronunciations, especially when encountering names rooted in other languages.

“I personally don’t care,” she said when discussing the confusion. She explained that her last name can be tricky for people who are not used to hearing it spoken correctly, and she never expects strangers to automatically know how to pronounce it.

Even her first name carries its own small variation. While most fans say “Alyssa,” Liu explained that her family often pronounces it more like “Ally sa.” Both versions are familiar to her, and she has grown comfortable answering to either one depending on who is speaking.

For Liu, the conversation about her name offers a glimpse into the cultural layers that shape her identity. Born in California and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, she is the daughter of Chinese immigrant Arthur Liu. Her father fled China after the Tiananmen Square protests and later built a life in the United States, raising a large family that includes Alysa and her four younger siblings.

That background has played a role in shaping the athlete she eventually became. Liu began skating at just five years old and quickly developed into one of the most exciting young talents in American figure skating. By the time she was 13 she had already become the youngest skater ever to win the U.S. national championship.

Her rise through the sport was meteoric, fueled by technical brilliance and fearless ambition. Liu became known for landing extremely difficult jumps, including quadruple rotations that very few women had attempted in competition. Those achievements quickly placed her among the most talked about young athletes in the sport.

Yet success at such a young age came with intense pressure. After competing in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, Liu shocked many fans by announcing that she was stepping away from competitive skating at just 16 years old. She later explained that years of constant training had left her feeling burned out and disconnected from life outside the rink.

For a time it seemed that her skating career might be over entirely. Instead Liu eventually rediscovered her love for the sport and made a comeback that surprised even her closest supporters. She returned with a new perspective, focusing less on medals and more on self expression and enjoyment.

That mindset helped fuel her extraordinary return to the Olympic stage in 2026. Skating with a sense of freedom and emotional storytelling, Liu delivered performances that captivated both judges and audiences. When the final scores were announced, she stood at the top of the podium as Olympic champion.

The victory transformed her into one of the most recognizable athletes of the Games. Interviews, media appearances and public events quickly filled her schedule as fans celebrated the remarkable comeback story.

Amid that surge of attention, Liu has remained grounded. She often speaks about the importance of connecting with audiences through emotion rather than chasing titles alone. In her view, the real purpose of skating is storytelling. Each performance becomes a way to share personal experiences and invite viewers to feel something alongside the athlete on the ice.

Even the small conversation about her name reflects that sense of authenticity. Instead of insisting that everyone get it exactly right, Liu treats the mispronunciations with humor and understanding. To her, the bigger picture is the connection she builds with fans through her skating and personality.

Following the Olympics, Liu announced that she would withdraw from the upcoming World Figure Skating Championships in Prague. After weeks of intense travel, media obligations and celebrations, she explained that she wanted to take time to rest and enjoy life outside competition before returning next season.

For now, the young champion seems content simply embracing the moment. She has accomplished something that few athletes ever achieve, bringing Olympic gold back to the United States while inspiring a new generation of skaters.

And as the world continues to learn more about her story, there is now at least one detail everyone can finally get right. Her name is Alysa Liu, pronounced Ah lee sa Lee oh.