Alysa Liu poses with the gold medal following her victory of the figure skating women’s singles at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Photo by AFP |
“I think that break was really critical,” Arthur told San Francisco Chronicles about his daughter’s two years away from figure skating before her return and winning two gold medals at the 2026 Winter Olympics last month.
“She got to enjoy a normal life and experience what normal teenagers experience, and that was very important for her mental health.”
Arthur, an attorney based in Oakland, California, is adjusting to the new reality of his daughter’s stardom. Not only is Alysa frequently recognized at airports, supermarkets, and restaurants, but Arthur himself is starting to encounter similar situations.
“People are recognizing her, and some people even recognize me. Some judges in court have congratulated me,” he said.
The most recent incident occurred during a court hearing in Walnut Creek, where an interpreter looked at him and said: “You are Alysa Liu’s father!”
Three weeks after her historic Olympic victory in Italy, Alysa’s life has changed quickly. She briefly returned to California for a few days of rest before embarking on a busy media tour across Boston and New York. She has appeared on major morning shows, posed for the cover of Teen Vogue, and met with many celebrities, including Harry Potter actor Daniel Radcliffe.
Once hailed as America’s figure skating prodigy, Alysa won the senior national championship at just 13 years old. However, following the 2022 Beijing Olympics, she announced her retirement at the age of 16, citing prolonged pressure.
During her two years away from the ice, she experienced the life of a normal teenager, going to school with friends, learning how to ski and getting her driver’s license. For Arthur, that crucial time away allowed his daughter to rediscover the initial pure joy in the sport that had once exhausted her.
Her return to competition in 2024 also marked a great shift in the father-daughter dynamic. Previously, Arthur was involved in every aspect of his daughter’s career. He chose her coaches, arranged her training schedules and closely monitored her training progress, essentially acting as her unofficial manager for many years.
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An old photo of figure skater Alysa Liu and her father Arthur Liu. Photo by Instagram/@alysaxliu |
That interference often caused tension in their relationship. Alysa once admitted that figure skating felt almost like her father’s job at the time. The pressure steadily built over the years until she finally decided to stop after the 2022 Winter Olympics.
Alysa has since been open about her complex feelings toward her father. In a recent interview with Rolling Stonethe Olympic champion admitted she was annoyed to see her father happy about her decision to return to competition, since he had opposed her retirement previously.
That tension led Alysa to establish new boundaries when she finally returned to the ice. She wanted absolute control over her own career. Respecting her wishes, Arthur stepped back, switching his role to a spectator in the stands, noting that Alysa shares the same free spirit that he does.
Arthur participated as an audience member when Oakland held a celebration honoring his daughter at Frank H. Ogawa Plaza last week, sitting below the stage while his daughter was honored by thousands of East Bay residents.
However, at one point during the celebration, the presenter specifically introduced and honored Arthur, prompting applause from the crowd. The Athletic even noted that for a brief moment, Authur was celebrated as the main character of the ceremony.
“I’m still over the moon right now,” Arthur said. “This is our home. It will be great to really celebrate with all the people who support and love her, to share the joy with people from home.”
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