I cannot begin to stress how important Alysa Liu is to a sport like figure skating. This is a sport that is rife with abuse and that has silenced women and has forced them to do as they’re told in order to win medals. This is a sport where authoritative figures exercise an immense amount of control over athletes from their childhoods.
Alysa left the sport because of burn out. Because of what she went through. When she came back, she said that she’d skate to whatever music that she wanted. That she’d be in charge of her training schedule. That she’d be able to take a very active role in choreographing her programs and choosing her costumes. Her entire comeback has been about her taking authority over her career. She is in charge of her own career, as it should be. As it should always be.
And she is now the Olympic Champion. Her trajectory is proof that an athlete taking control of their training, of their joy, and of their competitive career is absolutely paramount to success in sport.
