Gold Medalist Alysa Liu Is a Proud Daughter of an Immigrant: Who Is Her Father and What History Does He Hold?

Alysa Liu has become one of the most recognisable names in US figure skating following her gold medal win at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Liu's return to the sport after an early retirement drew widespread attention, but public interest has also focused on her family background, particularly her father, Arthur Liu, whose past as a Chinese political dissident has been widely reported.

However, among the noise, many often forget that Liu's father's journey also makes her a proud daughter of an immigrant.

Alysa Liu's Career and Comeback

Born on 8 August 2005 in Richmond, California, Alysa Liu rose to prominence as a teenager. In 2019, at age 13, she became the youngest US women's national champion. She later represented Team USA at the 2022 Winter Olympics, where she finished seventh in women's singles.

In April 2022, Liu announced her retirement from competitive skating at age 16, stating on social media that she felt satisfied with her career and was ready to move on. Two years later, she returned to competition. Her comeback culminated in a gold medal performance at the 2026 Winter Games in Milano Cortina, marking a significant milestone for US women's figure skating.

In interviews, Liu has spoken about seeking greater independence in her training upon her return, including greater input on coaching and choreography decisions.

Who Is Arthur Liu?

Arthur Junguo Liu, Alysa's father, is an immigration attorney based in California. Multiple outlets, including PBS and Nikkei Asia, have reported that he was involved in pro-democracy activism in China in 1989.

According to those reports, Arthur participated in student demonstrations linked to the broader movement surrounding the Tiananmen Square protests. After the Chinese government's crackdown, he fled the country and later resettled in the United States as a political refugee.

Public profiles state that he initially worked service jobs after arriving in the US, later earning advanced degrees and establishing an immigration law practice. His firm focuses on immigration-related legal services, an area that reflects his own experience navigating the asylum system.

Arthur Liu has also spoken publicly about raising five children as a single father through surrogacy. According to reports, he chose to have children via egg donors and surrogate mothers. In a 2019 interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, he said, 'I had always wanted to have kids, and I was already 40.'

Alysa is the eldest of the five siblings.

The 2022 Federal Charges and Alleged Targeting

In 2022, the US Department of Justice announced charges against several individuals accused of acting on behalf of the Chinese government to monitor and intimidate Chinese dissidents living in the United States. Court filings described one California-based dissident and his Olympic-athlete family member as targets.

Although the complaint did not initially name them, multiple media outlets later identified the dissident as Arthur Liu and the athlete as Alysa Liu.

According to federal prosecutors, one of the accused individuals allegedly posed as a representative of the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee in an attempt to obtain passport information connected to the athlete.

Arthur Liu has stated in interviews that he declined to provide documents and had previously been warned by the FBI about possible surveillance concerns.

The Department of Justice characterised the case as part of broader efforts to counter what it describes as 'transnational repression.' As with all federal charges, the allegations are subject to court adjudication.

Meanwhile, Liu has referenced her immigrant background and her father's history as formative influences. Her Olympic victory in 2026 has been widely covered as a major athletic achievement, separate from the political issues that previously drew headlines.