In 2022, American figure skater Alysa Liu retired from the sport after experiencing burnout and mental health challenges. At just 16 years old, she had reached the height of her career. Somewhere along the way, she lost the passion that she once had for figure skating.
After a 2-year hiatus, Liu returned to the sport and competed in the 2026 Winter Olympics, where she earned first place and took home the gold medal. She came back not because she had something to prove, but because she chose to come back on her own terms.
Her story is a reminder of how easy it is to burn out when expectations become louder than your own voice, and how powerful it can be to step away. Here are some things women can take away from her story.
Walking away isn’t failure
Women are often conditioned to endure situations that do not serve them. We are taught that resilience means never quitting, even when what you are doing is draining you of everything you have. The pressure to push through things like school, work, and relationships can overshadow the real emotional cost. Liu’s decision to step away from figure skating at 16 wasn’t a failure. Even though her career was thriving, she acknowledged that she wasn’t thriving in other aspects of her life. That self-awareness was the first step toward reclaiming her passion.
In a culture that glorifies endurance, there’s strength in recognizing when something no longer serves you. Giving yourself that break doesn’t erase all the effort you invested. It allows you to honor it in a way you wouldn’t be able to if you continued to endure something that no longer serves you.
Success doesn’t have one definition
Before retiring, Liu already had what many would consider the perfect success story. She became the youngest U.S women’s national champion in 2019 at 13, won another title in 2020, competed at the 2022 Winter Olympics, and earned a bronze medal at the World Championships the same year. Then she stepped away from the sport just as her career was taking off.
Success is often equated with constant upward momentum in the world of sports. Her retiring at the time she did didn’t fit the narrative of what everyone says success looks like. But success isn’t just medals and milestones. When Liu returned to the Olympics this year and won gold, it reinforced that success doesn’t have to follow one uninterrupted path to be real.
Speaking up is taking control
For women, speaking up about dissatisfaction can be difficult. We’re often told to be agreeable, to endure, to stay grateful for opportunities, even when something no longer feels right. Liu’s decision to step away from figure skating after she experienced burnout showed that advocating for yourself isn’t dramatic or ungrateful, it’s responsible.
Her winning gold at the Olympics this year reinforces that disrupting the flow of your life to take back control of it doesn’t close doors. It proves that you’re capable of walking away from something that doesn’t feel right and still be able to achieve success.
Liu’s comeback isn’t just about a successful figure skater, it’s about autonomy. It’s about knowing when to step back, when to change directions, and when to return. Her journey shows that women don’t have to sacrifice their well-being to succeed at things. The most powerful thing you can do is choose yourself and trust that success will meet you there.