Alysa Liu won Olympic gold last night. First American woman in 24 years.

She retired at 16, came back on her own terms - chose her own coaches, music, everything. Striped hair, piercing, skating to Donna Summer. After her free skate she yelled “That’s what the f*ck I’m talking about!”

Her dad fled China after Tiananmen Square in 1989. Before the 2022 Olympics, they were targeted by a Chinese government spy operation. She competed anyway. (He got some help from the FBI against intimidation tactics.)

She’s from Oakland, the biggety-O. She’s studying psychology at UCLA. Baby bruin. And she just broke figure skating wide open.

Joy and punk as a competitive strategy. 🤘 A winning strategy too.