Alysa Liu is living the epitome of a golden, lush life. After winning the gold medal for her free skate at the 2026 Olympics, the figure skater returned to the ice during the Exhibition Gala to premiere her newest program to the song "Stateside" by Zara Larsson and Pink Pantheress. The choice of song was a thrilling one not just for Alysa but also for Zara, who gave the 20-year-old a shoutout in a Feb. 22 TikTok, which Alysa was incredibly thrilled by.
"Wow, I love that," Alysa exclusively shared with E! News while watching Zara's video for the first time, adding that the positive response was "everything." "I am only able to do such great programs because their songs are so great," she continued, "and I really connect with it."
As Alysa explained, the music and the movement of her skating "go hand-in-hand." Since returning from retirement in 2024 and competing in the Olympics—where she became the first American woman to win gold in the women's figure skating final since 2002—Alysa has been candid about how much more comfortable she feels on the ice.
"There was a time where I wasn't confident in myself or I didn't know I could step out of the lane," she told E!. "That was up until I was 16 years old when I stepped away from the sport."
"That was my first out-of-the-lane decision," Alysa said, "and [my authenticity] just domino affected." And it definitely feels different for her now that she's back to competing—and doing so while being in control of her own decisions.
"It feels like I'm really just doing what I want to do," Alysa said, "and I'm more confident in myself." And that confidence also comes from making sure she's prepared not just on the ice but outside the rink, which is why she partnered with Gillette Venus, the official razor of Team USA and the Milano Cortina Games.
"I'm picky with blades, so this one? It's the one," she shared with E!. "On the ice, it's my get-ready, pre-competition [routine] and it doesn't leave my skin dry and stuff. It's a good razor."
And now that the Olympics have officially wrapped up, she's getting ready to head back to her normal life and figure out who the newest version of Alysa is. "It's still me. I want my life to stay as similar as possible," she said. "I'm really going to try to keep my peace because I like my life, so I don't want it to be too chaotic. I want it to stay calm and peaceful and chill."
