Sometimes, the Best Way Forward is Stepping Back

From left to right: silver medalist Kaori Sakamoto of Japan, gold medalist Alysa Liu of the United States, and bronze medalist Ami Nakai of Japan, jump on the podium to receive their medals after competing in the women's free skate program in figure skating at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

As the 2026 Winter Olympics came to a close, the United States returned with a total of 33 medals—12 of those being gold—setting a new record for the most gold medals won by a U.S. team at a Winter Games. The 16-day event did not just bring home new records; it also brought back formerly-retired figure skater Alysa Liu, who took a step away from the sport in 2022 following her Olympic debut in Beijing. 

Liu returned this year with a new mindset, ultimately helping her win gold. While the victory at the Olympics rightfully gets the spotlight, her journey raises a larger question: what happens when success is no longer defined by how long someone can push themselves without rest? Success is often defined by visible and tangible achievements—titles, medals, money—especially within elite sports. 

Enter Alysa Liu, whose decision to step away from figure skating—after reaching what some consider the pinnacle of her sports career—highlights a different perspective. Success might mean recognizing your own personal limits.

After years of treating skating like a full-time job, Liu decided to retire at 16. Stepping away allowed her to experience something she had rarely known: an ordinary life. She started doing things that skating prevented her from doing, and in the process discovered aspects about her life that were once overshadowed by her sport. 

“I was going to concerts, which I never could have done before. I got my driver’s license, I went on vacation for the first time in my life,” Liu said in an interview with KING 5 Seattle. She even attended her first year of college at the University of California, Los Angeles. Ironically, it was only after stepping away that Liu began to rediscover why she loved skating in the first place.

Liu attributed her return to figure skating to a ski trip in 2024, which reminded her of the "adrenaline rush” she once got from skating. She decided to skate again purely for the thrill of it. "I just wanted quick hits of dopamine, basically,” she told 60 minutes. A once-all-consuming aspect of her life, her time away helped her find what was once missing in her skating career: joy. 

Eventually, Alysa realized that she wanted to make a return to competitive skating. When she called one of her former coaches—Philip Diguglielmo—he tried to talk her out of it, saying it was  a terrible idea. In his eyes, no one in skating could return to the ice in the same way, especially not someone as competitive as Liu.  

It is rare for an athlete to retire, return simply for the joy of the sport and then reach the Olympic stage again in just two years. But, as she spent more time on the ice her skills began to return as if she had never left.

In her interview with 60 Minutes, Liu discussed the conditions prior to her return. “I get to help with the creative process of the program,” Liu said.

At 20 years old, Liu is redefining what it means to be an athlete, and is reshaping the narrative of what success looks like. She is the first American woman since 2002 to win individual gold in figure skating, yet the most powerful part of her story is not the medal itself. 

Instead, it is her ability to recognize her limits and step away when necessary. In a culture that glorifies relentless perseverance, Liu reminds us that the road to success is not predetermined—it can also include prioritizing one's well-being over pushing through burnout.

People often hold onto the notion that, to attain success in this world, one needs to prove their grit—almost like one big competition of who can tough it out the longest. In the United States, success is often measured by endurance, the ability to push through exhaustion, the sacrifice of personal well-being and working no matter the cost. 

Society often glorifies short-term success and monetary gain, reinforcing a system that prioritizes mental grit over a person’s long-term physical and mental well-being. Alysa’s story is inspiring, but it is also a wake up call. How much more could people succeed if we normalized acknowledging burnout instead of glorifying exhaustion?

I am not suggesting that everyone should quit their job or drop out of school when things become difficult. But Liu’s story highlights something many people hesitate to admit: burnout is real, and stepping away can be exactly what allows someone to return stronger.

Success is not always linear. Alysa Liu’s mentality shows that when you take control over your life, achievement can happen on your own terms. She no longer skates with the immense pressure of needing to be perfect, but purely for the joy of it. It is this mentality that ledto her first Olympic gold medal.

Success is not defined by how long you can stick it out. Instead, sometimes the hardest thing to do is admit what you truly need: a break.