Alysa Liu reveals special meaning behind eye-catching back tattoo
Alysa Liu revealed the personal story behind her striking back tattoo at the 2026 ESPYS
Olympic figure skating champion Alysa Liu has opened up about the deeply personal meaning behind the striking back tattoo she showcased at the 2026 ESPYS.
The 20-year-old athlete turned heads on the red carpet on July 15 in a custom backless Louis Vuitton gown, revealing a dramatic tattoo running along the lower part of her spine.
Speaking to People at the TIME100 Sports Gala a day later, Liu explained that the tattoo has been part of her life for years and holds special significance because she shares it with her best friend.
According to the Olympic gold medalist, the pair decided to get matching tattoos when she was 18.
"It's not a secret," Liu said, adding that the artwork contains meaningful details known only to the two of them.
"There's, like, little things here and there that are really personal to us in the design," she explained.
Liu has become known not only for her achievements on the ice but also for her bold fashion choices, including her signature bleached hair and facial piercings.
Her appearance at the ESPYS came after a historic 2026 Winter Olympics, where she captured gold medals in both the Women's Singles and Mixed Team figure skating events.
The skater continued her stylish run at the TIME100 Sports Gala, wearing a black lace Nicholas Oakwell Couture gown inspired by legendary Chinese American actress Anna May Wong, paired with Pandora jewelry.
Earlier this year, Liu also made her Met Gala debut after being named a Louis Vuitton house ambassador.
For fashion's biggest night, she wore a custom red Louis Vuitton gown inspired by this year's exhibition theme, with her stylist explaining that the intricate design referenced vascular structures, muscle tissue and the carved patterns created by figure skates on ice.
Liu previously said the Met Gala theme resonated with her because of the connection between athletic performance and fashion.
"For me it's all about the relationship with clothing and our bodies as an artistic medium," she told Vogue.