Alysa Liu says she's willing to jeopardize her skating career for her friends

Alysa Liu told Teen Vogue she prioritizes time with friends over training even if it affects her performance, and she recently won individual Olympic gold at the Milan-Cortina Games.

Alysa Liu, 20, recently said she prioritizes spending time with friends over training even if it affects her performance. She made the remark in an interview with Teen Vogue. Liu won an individual Olympic gold and contributed to Team USA's victory at the Milan-Cortina Games last month. Her return to competition followed a brief retirement she linked to burnout after the 2022 Beijing Olympics. Key facts: - Liu told Teen Vogue she often chooses hanging out with friends over training sessions, even if it might hurt her skating results. - At the Milan-Cortina Games she won individual Olympic gold and was part of Team USA's overall success. - She briefly retired after the 2022 Beijing Olympics, citing burnout, and later returned after time away that included hiking and skiing. - U.S. authorities later charged five people in an alleged spying case that reportedly targeted her and her father during the Beijing Games. - Commentators noted a joyful, relaxed quality to her Olympic free skate; NBC commentator Tara Lipinski said she appeared "so loose and completely herself." - After the Games Liu met actors Daniel Radcliffe and Simu Liu and spent time with cast members backstage at a Broadway performance. Summary: Her comments have drawn attention because they describe a personal priority that runs alongside elite competition and came after a widely praised Olympic performance. Liu has said she plans to compete at the 2030 Paris Games while maintaining her social life as a priority. Details of her upcoming season and competition schedule are undetermined at this time.