At 13 years old, Alysa Liu became the youngest U.S. women’s national champion in more than two decades. By 16, she had competed at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing and was widely considered one of the future faces of American figure skating.

Then she walked away.

“I’m done,” Liu wrote in an Instagram post in April 2022. “Skating has been my whole life. I’m ready to move on with my life.”

For many, her retirement at the height of her career was shocking. But for young people watching, it also opened up an important conversation, one about mental health, burnout and the pressure to keep pushing even when you’re struggling.

The Invisible Weight Many Teens Carry

Youth today balance academics, extracurriculars, social expectations, family responsibilities and constant online comparison. Even without Olympic-level pressure, these demands can feel significant.

A 2025 national survey by Mental Health Research Canada and GreenShield found that over 80% of Canadian youth reported feeling stressed and anxious about their future, with economic pressures contributing to this strain.

Burnout is not limited to elite athletes. It can happen to:

  • A student juggling advanced classes and part-time work
  • A teen athlete training year-round
  • A young person trying to meet high personal or family expectations
  • Someone, constantly comparing themselves to peers online

From the outside, things may look successful or stable. Internally, they may feel very different.

When Achievement Becomes Identity

One challenge youth face is tying identity too closely to performance.

For Liu, skating had been her entire life. For others, it may be academic achievement, athletic success, artistic talent or social recognition. When identity becomes narrowly defined, exhaustion or setbacks can feel deeply personal.

Mental health professionals emphasize that adolescence is a key period for identity development. Exploring different interests, building friendships and experiencing life outside a single role support resilience and emotional growth.

After stepping away from competition, Liu focused on school, friendships and typical teenage experiences, attending concerts, spending time with siblings and learning to drive. That period allowed her to reconnect with herself beyond sport.

Not every young person needs to quit what they love. But many may benefit from asking, Who am I outside of this one role?

The Pressure to “Look the Part”

In sports where the body is part of the performance, like figure skating, appearance can feel as important as skill. Costumes, makeup and physique become part of the score, and young athletes often internalize early messages about their bodies.

Liu recalled being told as a tween that she was “too curvy” for a jumpsuit and should stick with a dress instead. By the time she was learning to drive, she was already concerned about how her thighs appeared on the ice.

At just 10 years old, she travelled with teammates to train for weeks at the Lake Placid Olympic Center, living in a boarding house and pushing through gruelling days of practice. Even then, the dream of Olympic greatness came with constant scrutiny and pressure to “look the part.”

During a recent conversation with the New York Times, Liu addressed the “work culture” that dominates the figure skating world. “It was crazy. I had not had a day off. I would not want any kid to not have a day off. Coaches need better training,” she said, which prompted a comment about the potential to modernize the sport.

Today, Liu emphasizes a different message for young athletes. Champions can look strong and healthy, take breaks and come back and prioritize mental health without feeling like they are letting anyone down.

From Burnout to Balance

After training nonstop since the age of five, Liu stepped away from skating following the 2022 Winter Olympics.

“My mental health used to be horrible, like, absolutely horrible,” she told TODAY.com.

Burned out and feeling isolated, she paused her career and shifted her focus. She concentrated on school, friendships and everyday teenage experiences, learning to drive, spending time with siblings and going on her first vacation. She later described surrounding herself with the right people as “crucial.”

For a time, she avoided the rink entirely. What eventually drew her back wasn’t expectation; it was enjoyment. A ski trip reminded her how much she loved movement and adrenaline. She returned to competition in 2024, this time on her own terms.

Her current mental health habits are intentionally simple: getting enough sleep and staying connected with people she loves.

Liu Reclaims Her Skating

Liu’s return to skating in 2024 was defined by autonomy. After years of having little say in her own life, she finally regained control over her training, competitions, and personal expression. Her father had been heavily involved in every aspect of her career, from daily routines to travel and coaching decisions, leaving her with almost no ability to make choices for herself. His involvement was intense, even showing up at the rink with a radar gun to test the speed of her jumps.

“It was so bad. I just didn’t want to remember,” she said. “Every day was the same for me. Practice was so serious. I would cry after falling on every jump. The team I had around me was so strict. So I was in fight-or-flight mode all the time.”

When asked about her father’s reaction to her comeback, Liu was clear: “I have no idea. He was happy, but that didn’t matter to me. I was almost mad that he was happy. Like, ‘How dare you?’” She explained further, “I thought he shouldn’t have an opinion on it… I didn’t want him to care at all, because it shouldn’t affect him as much as it did the last time.”

Returning to skating, Liu set clear boundaries. She decided how she trained, what she wore, and how she performed, prioritizing enjoyment, self-expression, and health over approval or expectation. She noted how long it took to feel back at her pre-retirement level: “Definitely months. But I was already better in some ways. My artistry was better because I was more in my body. I would say after less than a year, I was back.”

Liu’s comeback reflects her individuality: with halo hair, a smiley piercing, and bold performances to songs by Lady Gaga and Laufey, she rejects the “ice princess” mold. She eats, dresses, and skates however she wants, finally skating entirely on her own terms.

ADHD and the Complexity of Performance

Liu has also been open about having ADHD. In an interview with ESPN, she said, “I have ADHD, and I love situations that I’m not expecting. It gives me a dopamine rush.”

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, ADHD, is one of the most common neurodevelopmental conditions among youth.

“ADHD can affect attention, emotional regulation and impulse control. At the same time, some individuals describe strengths such as creativity, energy and responsiveness in high-stimulation environments,” according to the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Liu’s comment reflects an important nuance. Mental health and neurodiversity do not exist separately from performance; they influence how young people experience it.

For some youth, structured academic settings may feel draining while dynamic environments feel energizing. For others, executive functioning challenges may increase stress around deadlines and expectations.

Understanding this complexity can reduce stigma and encourage self-awareness rather than self-criticism.

Put Mental Health First

Mental health is not separate from achievement. It directly influences it.

Across Canada, youth mental health remains a growing public health priority. Statistics Canada data show that many adolescents report significant stress, and national health agencies emphasize the importance of early intervention and accessible support.

Protective factors consistently identified in research include:

  • Supportive, stable relationships
  • Adequate sleep and recovery
  • A sense of autonomy or control
  • Understanding and accommodation of neurodiversity
  • Access to professional support when needed

For Canadian youth seeking support:

  • Kids Help Phone offers free, confidential 24/7 counselling (1-800-668-6868 or text 686868).
  • The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) provides education and community-based programs nationwide.
  • Foundry offers integrated health and mental health services for youth aged 12–24 in participating provinces.

Understanding mental health, including conditions like ADHD, as part of a young person’s overall development helps shift the conversation from weakness to awareness.

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