Alysa Liu's Untold Story: Quitting Figure Skating, Spies, & Finding Joy

In this extended interview that took place before the Olympic Games, Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu opens up in a candid, reflective interview about her personal growth, career evolution, and rediscovery of passion after stepping away from competition. At just 16, Liu became one of the youngest U.S. women’s national champions in history — but after years of intense training, public pressure, and global competition, she decided to take time off to find balance in her life. After time away from the sport she loves, now Alysa Liu stands amongst figure skating royalty as an Olympic Gold Medalist. In this in-depth conversation, Alysa talks about what it was like growing up in the spotlight, how the Olympic experience shaped her perspective, and what she learned after retiring from the sport and later returning to it. She describes rediscovering joy in everyday life, exploring hobbies like skiing, and learning who she was beyond skating. Welcome to the KARE 11 News YouTube channel. Subscribe to our channel for compelling and dramatic storytelling, award-winning investigations, breaking news and information you can use. Text your photos, videos and news tips to 763-797-7215. » Subscribe to KARE 11 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/KARE11?s... » Watch more KARE 11 video:    / kare11  . » Visit KARE11.com: http://www.kare11.com/ » Download our app! https://www.kare11.com/appredirect/ » Get KARE 11+ for Roku & Fire TV: https://www.kare11.com/roku » Find KARE 11 on Facebook:   / kare11   » Follow KARE 11 on Twitter:   / kare11   » Follow KARE 11 on Instagram:   / kare11   00:00 – Introduction 00:20 – Early success and burnout 00:43 – Losing passion for skating 01:07 – Why she quit after the Olympics 01:35 – Life after skating: school, travel, freedom 02:02 – Discovering new passions off the ice 02:26 – Realizing skating is art 02:43 – Returning stronger and more mature 03:08 – Skiing and finding joy again 03:47 – How skiing led her back to skating 04:05 – Reconnecting with the sport 04:26 – Loving skating on her own terms 05:12 – Seeing the Olympics as just one chapter 05:37 – Creativity and costume design 06:30 – Practice routines and habits 07:34 – Family roots and father’s activism 08:01 – Chinese spies and Olympic tension 08:59 – Views on politics and speaking out 09:18 – Meaning of Team USA 10:15 – Her perspective on government and activism 10:44 – Immigrant identity and pride 11:10 – Future of U.S. women’s skating