Alysa Liu, the American figure skating prodigy, was honored with the Best Breakthrough Athlete award at the 2026 ESPYs held on الأربعاء night. At just 20 years old, Liu triumphed over other notable contenders, including Macklin Celebrini, Drake Maye, and Fernando Mendoza.
Alysa Liu’s Remarkable Return and Olympic Triumph
After making her Olympic debut at the 2022 Beijing Games at the age of 16, Liu stepped away from competitive skating and chose to pursue her studies at UCLA. Known for being one of the youngest athletes to successfully land a triple Axel, her hiatus lasted nearly two years before she made a determined comeback in 2024.
This return culminated in a historic victory at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, where Liu’s compelling performance to Laufey’s “Promise” resonated widely and went viral. The routine, which narrated her journey back to the sport, helped her clinch the women’s singles gold medal. This victory was especially significant as it ended a 24-year gold medal drought for the United States in women’s figure skating, making her the first American woman to win the Olympic title since Sarah Hughes in 2002.
Her breakthrough on the Olympic stage was recognized later that year at the ESPYs, cementing her status as one of the sport’s most inspiring talents.
Reflecting on the Journey at the ESPYs Ceremony
During the awards ceremony at Lincoln Center in New York City, Liu took a moment to reflect on her skating career and the challenges she faced from a young age. Having devoted herself to figure skating since she was five, she acknowledged the difficulties she encountered but highlighted her resilience and passion for the sport that fueled her comeback and ultimate success.