But it was the NBC project, right? It had nothing to do with the USFSA?
Just don't waste the one that will be in for free as long as she competes. That's about it.
How much interest can Alysa Liu revive in figure skating in the US?
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- Jun 21, 2003
I agree with this post. No guarantees. Maybe some new permanent U.S. fans will be recruited, maybe not.
Still, it's fun while it lasts. I'm not complaining.
She introduced the ladies of Team USA. Do I know for certain who paid the entire bill? No.
Taylor Swift introduces you to Team USA's 'Blade Angels' Amber, Alysa, and Isabeau | NBC Sports
Taylor Swift introduces you to "American Showgirls on ice" Amber Glenn, Alysa Liu and Isabeau Levita, highlighting what makes each of them so phenomenal ahea...
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This whole "influencer" thing rubs me the wrong way. Are there really miliions and millions and millions of people out there who are begging "influencers" to tell them what to wear, what brand of lipstick to buy, what sports to watch? I am so out of touch.
It's a bit more complex.This whole "influencer" thing rubs me the wrong way. Are there really miliions and millions and millions of people out there who are begging "influencers" to tell them what to wear, what brand of lipstick to buy, what sports to watch? I am so out of touch.
What's an influencer in marketing: https://www.moburst.com/blog/types-of-influencers/
Shockingly, yes. I loathe influencers since for many of them there is no unethical level to which they will not descend. But I think the best "influencers" are those with no intention of even doing it. It just happens. Organically. You don't really think Tiger Woods set out to change the sport of golf forever do you?
But he did.
That's obviously not serious.
My bad, these days I don't know anymore when people are serious or not! I deleted the post!
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- Aug 12, 2014
That's what I think Alysa has done/is doing for figure skating. There's a paradigm shift in figure skating. Doing it for the love, the joy, the connection. There have always been skaters whose primary motivation isn't medals. Skaters who care more about supporting their competitors than beating them. But Alysa has brought it all to a whole new level. It's a new mindset.
Now, whether it brings about a positive answer to the question of this thread, remains to be seen. I think anything's possible.
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- Jun 21, 2003
That's a good example. Tiger Woods changed the game itself in various ways, for instance in elevating the importance of fitness for golfers in common with all other sports. He also was personally responsible for a huge boom in popularity of the sport both at the participatory level and in terms of live and TV viewership of tournaments on the pro circuit.
Both declined fairly precipitously when Woods' period of dominance was over. How will it play out for Alysa and figure skating?
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- Apr 23, 2018
Nice idea but it is way way way too early to say that. I'm not saying it's impossible, but... I'll wait and see, maybe in 2028. Or 29.
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In Tara's case that was no fluke. She had beaten Michelle the year before at both Nationals and Worlds. It's bizarre for anyone to think that a reigning World champion winning the Olympics is a 'fluke', or like Scott Hamilton said (in his usual melodramatic way
), that it was an 'upset of all upsets'. And Sarah was the reigning World bronze medallist going into the Games. She had also won the bronze at the GPF iirc. In her case maybe it was an upset but not that farfetched. She was absolutely a podium threat and an outside shot for gold with mistakes from the favorites - which is what ended up happening. And like Tara, she had triple-triple combos in her arsenal in an age when flutzes and Lips were largely ignored.
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- Jun 21, 2003
About paradigm shifts (or as protest singer Bob Dylan put it in 1964, "The times they are a-changin'), as usual figure skating stands out as pulling in two different directions at the same time.
A figure skating performance is all about exhibiting skills, with an esththextic component involving graceful movement, satisfying choreography., etc. A figure skating competition is, I want to win the gold medal. That's what "competition" means.To me, Alysa has placed herself at the moment in the eye of the hurricane. Medals? Performance? Skate for the fans, skate for myself, skate for the judges?
Is this a new dichotomy, or the same old, same old?
I think that is all an act, she withdrew from World's so she can go into the offseason as Olympic champion rather than let Sakamoto/Glenn beat her at World's and take the shine off that gold. Good thinking, but it does contradict the notion that Liu does this for the love of skating, for the joy, for the connection with fans.
Also, there's nothing wrong with something being an act, some skaters portray themselves as smiling and giggling everything is funny, others are the sensitive artist, Madison Chock is always unflappable with a big smile nothing out of place. It's all acting. Liu's act is that none of this matters to her she just wants to have fun doing what she loves (until this year's world championships anyway), and it's a really good act because everyone thinks it's real.
There's nothing wrong with pulling out World's after winning the Olympics, most of these ultra-competitive skaters do it especially if it's a bit of a lucky gold like with Shaidorov. It will never happen again where the Japanese mess up and Malinin has a meltdown they will talk about forever in figure skating, and Shaidorov knows it. Liu did lose to Glenn at their nationals so would fear a clean Glenn, Sakamoto shot an own goal by not putting a single toe loop onto her jump she won't do that again. I think Liu knows she could easily be off the podium if Nakai holds it together as well.
Good thinking. Keep that psychological edge, don't give Sakamoto the opportunity or satisfaction of putting things right at the world championships. Bask in that feeling of being the WINNER for another 12 months. Who doesn't love winning? It hurts a lot to lose, it hurts the ego to know someone is better, even more so for these ultra-competitive athletes who dedicate their lives to this, watch what they eat, deprive themselves of so much just to win a medal. It's a level of competitiveness most of us will never understand.
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- Jun 11, 2012
Wow - bitterness is right! Truth be told, probably any of the top 3-5 skaters could win on any given day. But that isn't how competition works. It's who is the BEST on a particular night. And I'm sorry, but to think Alysa's behavior is an act just goes to show you haven't followed her since she came on the scene or you have a hidden agenda for such an uncalled for and inaccurate statement. I really wonder sometimes what influences a person's post or thought process.
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Not so hidden.
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- Apr 2, 2009
I believe that like the generations before her, Alysa has inspired a whole new generation of little kids, that were watching her at the Olympics, to ask for skating lessons! Of course, it will take at minimum ten years to see her true impact.
Figure Skating viewership, we will see in the next year or so if it (hopefully) goes up.
In the short term, it seems that SOI shows are selling out or close to capacity for many shows. I was hoping to catch the show in Orlando when I visit my mom but sadly the Meet & Greet is sold out, as well as the best seats. I'm still going even if I have to watch from higher up! But, like viewership, we will have to wait and see until the upcoming seasons if interest can be maintained.
It's simply going to take some time to see the full impact that Alysa may have had on the sport. For now, I'm loving that so many opportunities are coming her way. Star figure skaters, unlike ball players in other sports, have such a small window of time for substantial earnings off of their success.
She's up to
It's Alysa, not Alisa. You haters are gonna hate. Whatevs.
She's forever the 2026 Olympic gold medal champion in the Women's event. DEAL. I love that in spite of the haters like above, Alysa is now very much a mainstream star with what appears to be a ton of endorsements. I still believe that she has brought a side of new fans to the sport. And I believe that more than a few are here to stay.
For those keeping count of Alysa's Instagram followers, she's currently at 8M.
It's a new winning mentality
Like you said, there have always been skaters. And how was their attitude called? "It's not a winning mentality."
Then Alysa came and proved that it is a winning mentality, a new one: you can eat what you want, train because you enjoy physical challenge, have life, have fun, have friends, and still win the Olympic gold - and the hearts of millions. And it could not be otherwise. When you do what you love, you give it your everything. - and you win. Like Alysa said it: "you can't really lose"
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- Mar 3, 2014
It'a a new winning mentality
Like you said, there have always been skaters. And how was their attitude called? "It's not a winning mentality."
Then Alysa came and proved that it is a winning mentality, a new one: you can eat what you want, train because you enjoy physical challenge, have life, have fun, have friends, and still win the Olympic gold - and the hearts of millions. And it could not be otherwise. When you do what you love, you give it your everything. - and you win. Like Alysa said it: "you can't really lose"
Not only that, but Alysa has that attitude because she had been through the "old ways" and she rejected them for her comeback.
Rejected practicing seven days a week.
Rejected strict control of her diet.
Rejected gargling water rather than drinking it due to ridiculous "water weight" fears.
Because those ways have nothing to do with "dedication", with "strength", with "wanting it enough". They are just old ways. And sports is about progress, after all.
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