Alysa Liu and the Contagious Power of Authentic Joy
There is no greater theater than the Olympics. Every two years, for two thrilling weeks, athletes from around the world showcase peak athletic excellence and, occasionally, remind us of what it means to be human. As expected, the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan Cortina featured no shortage of heroes and villains, triumphs and defeats, miraculous demonstrations of human strength and sobering reminders of human mortality. Amid a sprawling canvas of greatness, arguably no star shone brighter than US figure skater Alysa Liu.
Liu’s quirky hairstyle and unique facial piercings helped her stand out, and her remarkable talent earned her the gold medal (making her the first US woman to win gold since 2002). But it was her contagious joy that won her the hearts of people across the globe.
Following her gold medal skate, The Athletic (the New York Times—owned sports outlet), ran the headline, “Alysa Liu, bursting with joy, wins first U.S. Olympic women’s figure skating gold in 24 years.” That assessment perfectly sums up an athlete whose joy was as much a part of her Olympic story as was her position atop the podium.
Fewer than 200 athletes shared Liu’s experience of winning an Olympic gold medal. But for the 23.5 million daily viewers in America (and countless others around the world), her joy is what was most inspiring.
A Tale of Two Motivations
There is inherent risk in making sweeping character assessments of athletes based on a few weeks of intensive public scrutiny. Yet the difference between Alysa Liu and fellow American skater Amber Glenn is enlightening. Both are remarkably gifted, resilient women who performed well on the global stage. But their attitudes leading up to the events offered a stark contrast.
Prior to the Olympic games, Glenn spoke frequently about political issues and wanting to “use my platform and my voice” to advocate for LGBTQ-related causes. The specifics of what she was advocating for is less consequential than her emphasis on skating “for a cause.” Meanwhile, Liu couldn’t stop gushing about her routine, her dress, and having the opportunity to share her love of skating with the world.
If there’s a primary reason why Liu instantly became a beloved figure, whereas Glenn’s story failed to resonate with audiences, perhaps it’s this: joy is more compelling than a cause. Greater than the gap between their 1st and 5th place finishes, their differing approaches to the competition is what separated the two talented skaters.
American audiences on both sides of the political aisle embraced Liu, because joy is universally appealing. Regardless of one’s political beliefs or worldview, everybody craves joy. Audiences could affirm, reject, or debate the causes Glenn championed, but after witnessing Liu skate with unrestrained joy, they could only think, “I want what she has.”
A Joy that Compels
Abundant joy is more attractive than political causes, no matter how noble they may be. People can reject a belief, but they are drawn to joy like a moth to a light.
When Jesus summarized the essence of the Christian life to his disciples, he concluded, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:11). The apostle Peter wrote that faith in Jesus should lead to believers being “filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy” (1 Peter 1:8). The defining mark of a Christian should be unmistakable joy.
Alysa Liu didn’t endear herself to the world simply by smiling a lot. Her joy felt authentic. It wasn’t part of a manufactured public persona designed to win over audiences. It flowed from deep within her. You can fake happiness but not joy. For Christians, showcasing the “joy of the Lord” requires more than artificial smiles and forced cheer. We must demonstrate true joy that overflows from the wellspring of our relationship with Christ.
Popular advice in fiction writing is “show don’t tell.” People aren’t looking for more opinions. In our age of social media influencers, there is no shortage of those to be found. What many people don’t possess, especially in a digital world with a vested interest in keeping people angry, is joy.
Joy isn’t just a dash of sugar to help the Christian doctrine go down. Joy is an essential pillar of the faith. The Bible says, “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). Alysa Liu reminded the world that joy is contagious, and people are hungry for it. If Christians want to entice others to embrace our faith, it won’t be by lecturing them about our causes and beliefs; it will be by demonstrating where true joy can be found.
