Alysa Liu (USA) made headlines already last year when, at age 13, she became the youngest US Ladies’ Champion in history, but she was still too young to compete at the international junior level, as her birthday is in August. The whirlwind from California then entered the junior scene with a bang and jumped right into skating history when she became the first female skater to land a triple Axel and a quadruple jump (Lutz) in one program at her very first ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating event in Lake Placid (USA). At this event, she set her personal best total score of 208.10 points. Alysa also is the first to produce a triple Axel-triple Toeloop combination in the Junior Ladies Short Program. A triple Axel is not allowed as a solo jump in the Junior Ladies Short Program, but it is possible to have it in combination.
“I feel once you learned your triples you want to move and improve yourself by doing quads. Girls realize they are possible and they try them,” Alysa said at the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final, where she claimed the silver medal. “I think I was 12 when I wanted to do the triple Axel, so I started working on it and then I eventually got it like two months later. My quad Lutz - I wanted to learn it, I'm not sure how long ago, but really wanted to learn it. I chose the quad Lutz, because the triple Lutz was my easiest triple,” she explained at the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships.
Alysa Liu (USA) at the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships 2020©International Skating Union (ISU)
The 14-year-old went on to have a successful season by defending her national title at the senior level and by earning the bronze medal in her debut at the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships.
Since she is not age eligible for the international senior level yet next season, Liu will continue at the international junior level. “Coming up, I really want to improve my quad Lutz, my triple Axel, maybe learn some new quads, improve my spins, skating skills, basically everything,” she commented in Tallinn.
