MILAN — Alysa Liu’s father sifted through conflicting thoughts and emotions.
It was less than 24 hours after his daughter won the gold medal for the women’s individual figure skating competition at the 2026 Winter Olympics on Thursday, Feb. 19.
Arthur Liu wore a smile and the look of happiness during an exclusive interview with USA TODAY Sports. He also grew subdued while sharing regrets. He said they stemmed from decisions he made years before his daughter wowed spectators inside the Milano Ice Skating Arena and millions of people watching on TV.
He reflected on a coaching change not long before Alysa walked away from ice skating at 16.
“In retrospect, I feel I made a mistake,’’ Arthur Liu said, adding that Alysa “started to hate skating and stuff until she quit.’’
He also said he regretted taking her from the family’s home in Northern California months before the 2022 Winter Olympics to train in Colorado Springs, where USA Ice Skating is headquartered. She finished sixth at the Beijing Games.
“I took her to Colorado Springs and I left her there,’’ said Arthur Liu, who added that at the time he was overwhelmed with the demands of running his law practice and being a single parent of five children. Alysa, 20, is the oldest. “During that period of time, I wasn’t there for her.
“She was upset and she missed home. But then I was thinking, when I was 14, I went to boarding school. I survived. I felt like (Alysa) can survive this, too. But not knowing that she hated it. I did not know until she came home.’’
‘Do it your way’
When Alysa Liu returned to ice skating at 18, Arthur Liu said, she made it clear how things would proceed.
“She said, ‘I’m coming back. I’m going to do my terms,’’ Arthur recalled. ‘I was like, yes, go ahead and do it your own way. Because I mean, as a father, I love her and I want to support her. But there’s only this much I can do. I’m just one person. I’m very tired by the end of the day.
“Just work and the kids and everything. I just want to relax a little. I don’t have to worry too much about her (now). That’s great. You want me to be hands off? That’s great. Even though you hurt a little bit to hear that.’’
At 13, Alysa became the youngest U.S national champion ever. And as her skating career progressed, Arthur Liu said, he hoped to find someone else to take over.
“Because it’s too hard for me,’’ he said. “It is really difficult for me to raise a champion, take care of her, and also take care for other kids.
“So I had always wanted somebody to take over and that happened. So, OK, you’re not on the team anymore. In a way, it hurts a little bit to hear. But as a matter of fact, that’s exactly where I wanted, for her to be independent.’’
Arthur Liu gave up his role as Alysa’s manager.
“She has a good team of people around her,’’ Arthur Liu said. “So I don’t have to worry about how I can protect her or what to do.
“I’m totally hands off with her business. I have done my job for her and now I need to focus on the other four (children).’’
‘Hugs and pictures’
Section 28, Row 2, Seats 1 through 5.
That’s where Arthur and his four children sat inside the Milano Ice Skating Arena, on a far end of the rink. He said Alysa spotted them during the six-minute practice session before the final stage of the competition began.
Later, Arthur said, he learned she also was forming her fingers into the shape of hearts.
“She’s like that,’’ Arthur Liu said. “Even early on in (U.S.) nationals, national competitions, she would know where I was sitting.
He said his family waited at the arena until 2:30 p.m. so they could visit with Alysa for 10 minutes.
About 20 friends and family members were there to greet Alysa, according to Arthur Liu.
“Lots of hugs and pictures,’’ he said of the visit.
‘I really trust her’
During the night of the free skate, Arthur Liu said, he was only a little nervous.
“I really trust her,’’ he said. “I trust her that she would go out there and do what she normally does. And also my philosophy is a little bit like hers. I’m not so attached to placement, medals. I mean, it’s really about two great programs (the short program and the free skate.)
“That’s something that she’s happy with, happy about. So if she does that, normally it works out pretty well for her.’’
Yet when Alysa vaulted into first place, Japan’s Ami Naka and Kaori Sakamoto were within striking distance before they skated last.
“After (Alysa) performed, I was very happy,’’ Arthur Liu said. “But there are two very strong competitors coming up, so you never know.’’
Soon enough, Arthur Liu knew. Everyone knew.
Alysa was the Olympic champion, America’s first champion figure skater since 2002.
‘They had so much fun’
Arthur Liu recalled the early days after Alysa, his oldest child, started skating. Two of her siblings joined her.
‘They had so much fun chasing people doing hide and seek at the rink and made friends with adults, hockey players and chasing each other,’ Arthur Liu said. ‘It’s just having fun. That’s what parents would want to see.’
And there she was at the Milano Ice Skating Arena, exuding joy and clearly having fun like she did before a dark period and taking a hiatus.
“She’s just really happy to see the crowd,’’ Arthur Liu said, “and she just wants to put on a good performance.’’