China Spied on Her Father—She Just DESTROYED Them

A hand holding a magnifying glass over a document

A young woman whose father fled China’s brutal communist regime just skated her way into Olympic history, shattering a 24-year American drought while carrying a backstory that reads like a Cold War thriller meets underdog sports drama.

Story Snapshot

Alysa Liu won Team USA’s first women’s figure skating individual gold medal in 24 years at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics on February 19, 2026
Her father Arthur escaped China after the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre, later becoming the target of a Chinese government spying operation before the 2022 Beijing Olympics
The 20-year-old Oakland native scored 226.79 total points with a disco-themed free skate to Donna Summer, edging out Japanese rivals amid intense pressure
Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee announced a homecoming celebration as Liu’s victory videos went viral, showcasing her authentic celebration complete with expletives and tears

The Golden Performance That Ended Two Decades of Drought

Alysa Liu glided onto the ice in a glittering gold costume on February 19, 2026, carrying more than athletic ambition. She carried the weight of American figure skating’s longest women’s singles medal drought since Sarah Hughes captured gold in 2002. Her free skate to Donna Summer’s “MacArthur Park Suite” earned 150.20 points, pushing her total to 226.79 and securing the top spot over Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto and Ami Nakai. The performance blended 1980s disco grooves with technical precision, choreographed by Massimo Scali to showcase Liu’s funky style complete with bleached hair, piercings, and unapologetic Oakland attitude.

The victory marked redemption for Liu, who retired briefly after competing in the 2022 Beijing Olympics. Her 2025 World Championship win earned her Olympic spot, setting the stage for this historic moment. Teammates Isabeau Levito finished 12th and Amber Glenn placed 5th, leaving Liu to carry Team USA’s individual medal hopes alone. Her third-place finish in the short program with 76.59 points, skating to Laufey’s “Promise” in a custom Lisa McKinnon dress, positioned her perfectly for the final push.

From Tiananmen Square to Olympic Gold

The triumph cannot be separated from Arthur Liu’s harrowing escape from China following the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, when communist forces massacred pro-democracy protesters. His activist background became a security threat decades later when Chinese government operatives targeted the Liu family before the 2022 Beijing Olympics. Alysa described the spying operation as “freaky and exciting,” comparing it to being a “movie character” caught in geopolitical intrigue tied to her father’s defiance of authoritarianism. The incident underscores how Beijing’s regime pursues perceived enemies across generations and continents.

This family history transforms Liu’s gold medal into something larger than athletic achievement. She embodies the American promise that rewards merit and freedom over oppression. Her father fled tyranny to build a life where his daughter could pursue dreams impossible under communist rule. The Chinese government’s surveillance attempts failed to intimidate them, and Liu’s victory on the world’s biggest stage delivers poetic justice. Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee captured it perfectly, noting Liu embodies the city’s “refusal to back down” against any obstacle.

Oakland’s Homegrown Champion

Liu’s roots run deep in Oakland’s working-class skating community. She trained at Oakland Ice Center, attended the Oakland School of the Arts, and represents East Bay grit that Mayor Lee says inspires youth to see “what becomes possible.” The school posted pride in Liu’s commitment to “staying true to authenticity and culture,” referencing her alternative style that breaks figure skating’s traditional mold. Her authenticity resonates because she never sanitized herself for judges or cameras, choosing instead to skate with raw emotion that culminated in viral footage of her screaming expletives in joy after securing gold.

Oakland planned a homecoming celebration following Liu’s February 20 City Hall visit announcement. The community rallies around her as proof that Oakland produces champions who refuse conformity. Her fashion choices and musical selections signal generational shifts in a sport historically dominated by conservative presentation. Liu demonstrates that excellence and individuality coexist, a lesson particularly meaningful for young athletes from diverse backgrounds who see themselves reflected in her success.

What This Victory Means for American Figure Skating

Team USA’s women’s figure skating faced mounting pressure after Sasha Cohen’s 2006 silver medal marked the last individual podium finish. Liu’s gold resurrects American dominance in an event once considered guaranteed for U.S. medals. The 20-year wait exposed systemic challenges in developing elite talent amid international competition surges, particularly from Japan and Russia. Liu’s comeback from retirement and 2025 World Championship prove the pathway still exists for skaters willing to persevere through setbacks and evolving technical demands.

Her triumph carries implications beyond scoreboards. Liu becomes a cultural icon for Asian-American athletes navigating dual heritage while representing the United States against ancestral homelands. Her story spotlights ongoing Chinese government interference with Americans, validating concerns about Beijing’s extraterritorial intimidation tactics. The contrast between Arthur Liu’s escape from communist brutality and his daughter’s Olympic glory illustrates why immigrants risk everything for American opportunity. Liu told media she didn’t need a medal to validate herself, just wanted to “show people what I can do” on her own terms. That independent spirit, forged partly through family persecution, defines the championship mentality America cultivates better than any authoritarian system ever could.