On paper, what Alyssa Liu has pulled off in Milan never should have happened. When I interviewed her *** couple of months ago, she told me that the way she used to have to train as *** teenager left her, in her words, low-key traumatized. So she retired at 16 and then left the sport to find out what was it like to be *** normal teenager, and when she did come back 2 years later, it was on her terms and with true joy for the sport. Olympic gold medals are *** currency, and Lou is going to spend her platform making sure that people understand that you can become *** champion without destroying your mental health. I know it wasn’t about *** gold medal for you, but the truth is by having that gold, you have the proof that it’s possible in your sport to do things *** little differently. What’s the message you want to give not only to young athletes but also to coaches and parents about what’s possible? Breaks can do wonders for you, and I think. I think every athlete should take *** break, to be honest, step aside, actually, not just athletes. I think everyone in general that’s kind of in the same loop in their life. I think it’s very healthy to kind of step back and get *** different perspective. I sure learned *** lot from it. Alyssa is actually not done skating yet. She’ll take part in this closing gala, which is basically like an exhibition, no medals on the line. It is purely for fun, which is 100% her speed at the Milan Cortina Olympics. I’m Georgia Fitzpatrick.
Alysa Liu, a Team USA figure skater, came out of retirement to win two gold medals at the Milan Cortina Olympics and use her platform to promote mental health awareness among young athletes.Watch the interview in the video player above.Liu retired at 16, feeling “lowkey traumatized” by her training as a teenager, and returned to the sport two years later on her own terms, experiencing true joy.Olympic correspondent Deirdre Fitzpatrick caught up with Liu in Milan, noting that Liu’s achievements on paper seemed unlikely. Liu is determined to show that athletes can become champions without compromising their mental health.”Breaks can do wonders for you. And I think, I think every athlete should take a break, to be honest. Actually, not just athletes. I think everyone, in general, that’s kind of in the same loop in their life,” Liu said. “I think it’s very healthy to kind of step back and get a different perspective. I learned a lot from it.”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
MILAN, Lombardy —
Alysa Liu, a Team USA figure skater, came out of retirement to win two gold medals at the Milan Cortina Olympics and use her platform to promote mental health awareness among young athletes.
Watch the interview in the video player above.
Liu retired at 16, feeling “lowkey traumatized” by her training as a teenager, and returned to the sport two years later on her own terms, experiencing true joy.
Olympic correspondent Deirdre Fitzpatrick caught up with Liu in Milan, noting that Liu’s achievements on paper seemed unlikely. Liu is determined to show that athletes can become champions without compromising their mental health.
“Breaks can do wonders for you. And I think, I think every athlete should take a break, to be honest. Actually, not just athletes. I think everyone, in general, that’s kind of in the same loop in their life,” Liu said. “I think it’s very healthy to kind of step back and get a different perspective. I learned a lot from it.”