Alysa Liu appeared to push back at the notion that it’s her time to be an example for many who dream of winning Olympic gold medals.
The figure skater won gold with her breathtaking free skate at the Milan Cortina Games after helping the U.S. to gold in the team event. She also seized attention for her relaxed exuberance and unvarnished celebration.
Although the 20-year-old from Oakland, California, expressed discomfort as being seen as a “role model,” she offered advice for others in an interview Friday with USA Today and other outlets.
“I don’t know if I really want to be a role model, I would say,” Liu said. “But I guess I am. So if anything, I just urge people to spend time with themselves, try new things, different things, just to gain experience and then decide for themselves what they want to do.
“Taking breaks is OK, and yeah, sometimes taking a step back is what’s needed to see the full picture.”
