Arthur Liu is the father of Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu and the driving force behind much of her figure skating journey. From fleeing China after the Tiananmen Square protests to building a life in California as a single dad by choice, Arthur has played a central role in his daughter’s path to the top of the podium. Here’s what you need to know.
1. Alysa Liu’s Dad Fled China After the Tiananmen Square Protests
Arthur was born in a small mountain village in China’s Sichuan Province. He was one of six children, and his father worked for the government while his mother was a farmer.
At 25, Arthur fled China after participating in pro-democracy protests during the 1989 Tiananmen Square movement. He later told NBC Sports about his upbringing and departure from China.
After relocating to the Bay Area, Arthur earned a law degree from the University of California and founded Inter-Pacific Law Group Inc., establishing himself as an immigration attorney.
2. Arthur Liu Became a Single Father by Choice
Arthur has four younger children in addition to Alysa — Selena and triplets Julia, Justin and Joshua. All five children were born via surrogacy using anonymous egg donors.
“I had always wanted to have kids and I was already 40,” Arthur told the San Francisco Chronicle in 2019.
Arthur’s mother, Shu, moved from China to California to help raise the children during their early years, according to NBC Sports. At one point, the entire family lived in a one-bedroom apartment. Alysa later recalled the experience fondly.
“When we were little, we would all sleep in the same room [in] three bunk beds, it was so fun,” Alysa told KCRA in 2025. “We would stay up late, like crawling around the bunk beds … honestly, I kind of miss it.”
3. Arthur Liu Built Alysa’s Skating Career From Age 5
Arthur introduced Alysa to figure skating when she was just 5 years old, inspired by legends Michelle Kwan and Kristi Yamaguchi.
After noticing her talent, he structured her life around the sport.
“I spared no money, no time,” Arthur said during a “60 Minutes” interview. “I just saw the talent.”
Although he described his parenting style as “laissez-faire,” Arthur closely monitored practices, replaced coaches and even brought a radar gun to measure jump speeds.
“It was basically his business,” Alysa said. “It wasn’t even really mine.”
By 13, Alysa became the youngest U.S. champion in history and the first American woman to land three triple axels.
4. Alysa Liu Retired at 16 Without Consulting Her Dad
In April 2022, shortly after competing at the Beijing Winter Olympics, Alysa announced her retirement at age 16.
She did not consult Arthur before making the decision.
During the “60 Minutes” interview, Alysa described her early skating years as intense.
“I skated every day when I was 13 and 14, so it was a very abnormal childhood,” she said. “Especially as a kid, you don’t really know what you want. Skating feels more like a responsibility or a burden, even.”
She returned to the sport two years later, won the 2025 World Championships and captured Olympic gold in 2026.
5. Alysa Liu & Her Dad Were Targeted in Federal Investigation
In 2022, the U.S. Justice Department charged five men accused of acting on behalf of the Chinese government to target Chinese dissidents in the United States. According to USA TODAY Sports and the Associated Press, Arthur was identified in court documents as “Dissident 3,” and Alysa was referenced as a “family member.”
Arthur told the Associated Press that a man posing as a U.S. Olympic official requested copies of their passports before the 2022 Games.
“I felt something fishy was going on,” Arthur said.
Alysa addressed the situation at a Team USA media event in 2022.
“In a weird way, I was like, ‘Am I in some prank show? Is this world real?’” she said.
Alysa Liu’s Dad, Arthur Liu: Five Fast Facts You Need to Know