Alysa Liu: Olympic Gold, Millions of Followers & Viral Hair Trend

Alysa Liu, the 20-year-old American figure skater, has seen her Instagram following surge past 5.3 million in the week following her gold medal win at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, according to reports from Fox News. The win marked the first individual Olympic gold medal for the United States in women’s figure skating in 24 years.

Prior to the start of the Olympics, Liu had fewer than 300,000 followers on the platform. Her performance in the women’s final propelled her to global recognition, becoming a central narrative of the Winter Games. As of Wednesday, February 25, 2026, Liu’s Instagram account, @alysaxliu, displays 6 million followers, according to a recent post.

The rapid growth in Liu’s social media presence has eclipsed that of Eileen Gu, the skiing star who competes for Team China. Gu, who won one gold and two silver medals at the same Olympics, currently has 3.7 million Instagram followers. While Gu experienced an increase in followers prior to the Olympics, rising from over 2.1 million, the growth pales in comparison to Liu’s meteoric rise.

Liu’s success comes after she openly discussed the pressures of competitive sports. In a recent Instagram reel, she stated, “Sports like this can be pretty toxic. So I’m really glad that I quit at 16.” This candidness appears to have resonated with fans, contributing to her widespread appeal.

The surge in Liu’s popularity has positioned her as a prominent figure in the world of sports, with some observers noting her ascendance as a defining moment of the 2026 Winter Olympics. The contrast between Liu and Gu, an American-born athlete competing for China, has also drawn attention, sparking debate about national representation in international sports.