By now, anyone who watched Alysa Liu skate her way to Olympic gold has felt it: Her irresistible likability has little to do with medals, technical scores, or podiums and everything to do with something far less measurable: the magnetic presence of a person wholly, unapologetically, and joyfully herself.

From Prodigy to Sovereignty

Liu first captured public attention as a prodigy, becoming the youngest U.S. champion at 13. Then, in a move almost unheard of in elite sport, she stepped away. She chose an ordinary teenage life. She chose space. She chose to discover who she was beyond the rink.

And when she returned, it didn’t feel like a comeback driven by unfinished ambition. It felt like a return anchored in self-trust.

We are not just watching a champion. We are witnessing someone who chose selfhood over expectation — and came back not hardened, but illuminated.

So why can’t we stop watching her?

Because the joy that radiates from Liu’s skating feels unrehearsed. After landing a difficult jump, she doesn’t simply compose herself for the judges; she beams. There is a flash of delight, almost disbelief, as if she’s still in love with the act itself.

To a sport known for exacting standards — tight hair buns, balletic lines, disciplined smiles — she has brought something disarming: ease. Her movements feel lived-in rather than manufactured. Even under immense global pressure, she projects a grounded exuberance that is electric.

Authenticity commands attention because it is rare. Most of us are not elite athletes, but we know the quiet pressure to conform — to smooth our edges, mute our instincts, and present the most acceptable version of ourselves. Over time, we trade aliveness for approval. Research in self-determination theory shows that autonomy and authenticity are core psychological needs; when honored, vitality rises.

What we see in Liu is the opposite of self-erasure. It is sovereignty. In my book SOVEREIGN, I describe sovereignty as the power that emerges when a person lives in alignment with their deepest truth. It unlocks a different quality of performance — one infused with profound and noticeable positive energy.

A Mirror to Our Own Lives

Authenticity does not guarantee Olympic gold. But it does allow for the fullest expression of one’s potential. Alysa Liu offers a counterpoint to the common end-of-life regret of not living true to oneself.

In Liu, we are not merely watching a skater; we are witnessing a mirror held up to our own unlived possibilities. In her joy, we glimpse what it feels like to move without apology. In her presence, we are reminded that life is not meant to be performed for approval but inhabited fully.

We love Alysa Liu not only for who she is, but for what she awakens in us: the courage to claim our own sovereignty.

SOVEREIGN: Reclaim Your Freedom, Energy & Purpose in a Time of Distraction, Uncertainty & Chaos by Emma Seppälä

Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2000). Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being. American Psychologist, 55(1), 68–78. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11392867/

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