Alyssa Liu was overjoyed when she won the Olympic gold medal in women’s figure skating at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, with a look of joy and fun on her face throughout the game.
So it’s hard to believe that she wasn’t in a good place when she became famous a few years ago Retired from playing at the age of 16 after feeling burnt and lonely. She has been training continuously since the age of 5.
“My mental health used to be terrible, like, absolutely terrible,” Liu, now 20, tells TODAY.com.
“And I just took a break, and I did something new. I went into a different part of my life. I really focused on school and friendships, and honestly, that’s what kept me going.”
She says it was “important” to surround herself with the right crowd of people. Liu went on her first vacation and got a driver’s license.
“I learned to drive during that time, so I could go out more, hang out with my siblings and do things. It definitely helped,” she says.
“I looked deeply into myself for a long time.”
For a time, Liu hated skating so much that she avoided going to the ice rink.
But then she knew she was ready to come back after an adrenaline-filled winter trip to Lake Tahoe, she recalls.
“I went skiing and I had a lot of fun, and I said, ‘Okay, I want to have more fun.’ So it was a selfish decision,” says Liu.
He announced his return to competition in March 2024.
Alyssa Liu’s mental health advice
Her current formula for staying mentally strong involves two main habits: “Getting a good night’s sleep and making sure I talk to the people I love often,” says Liu.
“I think sleep is the biggest thing – getting enough hours. I need at least eight hours to feel good.”
The skater goes to the gym to supplement her training on the ice with days of stability and strength training. She eats three full meals a day to fuel her body and mind. During the competition, she reminds herself to breathe.
How does she stay so calm under pressure? Appearing on Today on March 2, Liu said that if she messed up and had a terrible event she would be “totally fine” so there was no need to panic.
Liu tells people struggling with their mental health, “Don’t compare yourself to anyone. Stay on your path, your journey, and focus on yourself.”
For young athletes who are finding themselves feeling as burned out as they once were, she offers this advice: “If it’s really that much of a struggle, I would say definitely take a break. Don’t be afraid to do that. You’ll be afraid of failure, (but) honestly, trying new things will definitely get you a different result.”
Family plays a huge role in his life. his father She is her biggest cheerleader and has four younger siblings – three sisters and one brother – with whom she enjoys hanging out.
As far as her incredible comeback goes, Liu is choosing to compete on her own terms. What would she tell her younger self about this moment?
“Nothing, nothing. I wouldn’t want to tell him anything,” says Liu.
“Because I don’t want to change anything. Like, she’ll figure it out. She’ll get through it.”
