{"id":7844,"date":"2026-03-02T11:55:17","date_gmt":"2026-03-02T11:55:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/?p=7844"},"modified":"2026-03-02T11:55:17","modified_gmt":"2026-03-02T11:55:17","slug":"2-million-views-and-still-climbing-alysa-liu-ilia-malinins-surprise-skate-has-fans-replaying-one-moment-figure-skating-fans-are-calling-it-the-crossov","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/?p=7844","title":{"rendered":"\u201c2 Million Views \u2014 And Still Climbing.\u201d Alysa Liu &#038; Ilia Malinin\u2019s Surprise Skate Has Fans Replaying One Moment  Figure skating fans are calling it \u201cthe crossover we didn\u2019t know we needed.\u201d When Alysa Liu and Ilia Malinin stepped onto the ice together, what was meant to be a joyful exhibition quickly turned into a viral sensation \u2014 soaring past 2 MILLION views in days.  From the opening glide, the chemistry was undeniable. Not romantic \u2014 not competitive \u2014 but electric. Two of skating\u2019s brightest stars moving in sync, trading playful moments and razor-sharp edges. Fans say there\u2019s one split-second interaction mid-program that changed the entire energy of the rink \u2014 and it\u2019s the part everyone keeps replaying.  Was it just a fun collaboration \u2014 or a glimpse at something bigger for the sport\u2019s future?  \ud83c\udfa5 Watch the full viral performance below and see why viewers can\u2019t stop hitting replay&#8230;. \ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Two of Team USA\u2019s brightest stars gave fans a moment they won\u2019t soon forget.<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-post-image\" src=\"https:\/\/litaupdate.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/thumb-2026-03-02T150545.792.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/litaupdate.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/thumb-2026-03-02T150545.792.jpg 650w, https:\/\/litaupdate.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/thumb-2026-03-02T150545.792-300x162.jpg 300w\" alt=\"\" width=\"650\" height=\"351\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-2\"><\/div>\n<p>In a short but joyful clip that has now passed 2 million views, Alysa Liu and Ilia Malinin shared the ice together, laughing, gliding and clearly enjoying the spotlight after a dramatic Olympic season. The video, posted under the banner \u201cOlympics Team USA Figure Skating Stars Alysa Liu &amp; Ilia Malinin Shine on the Ice,\u201d quickly went viral as fans celebrated the rare sight of the two champions skating side by side.<\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-4\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-3\"><\/div>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-60122 size-full td-animation-stack-type0-2\" src=\"https:\/\/qnewscenter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Two-U.S.-Skating-Stars-Alysa-Liu-and-Ilia-Malinin-Share-the-Ice-in-Viral-Performance-Fans-Have-Been-Waiting-For.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 813px) 100vw, 813px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qnewscenter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Two-U.S.-Skating-Stars-Alysa-Liu-and-Ilia-Malinin-Share-the-Ice-in-Viral-Performance-Fans-Have-Been-Waiting-For.jpg 813w, https:\/\/qnewscenter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Two-U.S.-Skating-Stars-Alysa-Liu-and-Ilia-Malinin-Share-the-Ice-in-Viral-Performance-Fans-Have-Been-Waiting-For-300x162.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qnewscenter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Two-U.S.-Skating-Stars-Alysa-Liu-and-Ilia-Malinin-Share-the-Ice-in-Viral-Performance-Fans-Have-Been-Waiting-For-768x415.jpg 768w\" alt=\"\" width=\"813\" height=\"439\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-14\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-4\"><\/div>\n<h3>For many, it felt like a dream come true.<\/h3>\n<p>\u201cThis is what world champions look like,\u201d one fan wrote. Another called them \u201ctwo classy young athletes,\u201d while others praised the camaraderie and sportsmanship shown by the U.S. team throughout the Games. Comments poured in from around the world, with viewers describing the duo as \u201cadorable,\u201d \u201cbreathtaking,\u201d and \u201cso good together.\u201d Some even joked about a future in pairs skating.<\/p>\n<p>The lighthearted moment came after a high-pressure Olympic campaign in Milan that reshaped both of their careers.<\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-5\"><\/div>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Olympics Team USA Figure Skating Stars Alysa Liu &amp; Ilia Malinin Shine on the Ice #sports #friends\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/KWrIE6KIvdI\" width=\"350\" height=\"235\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\">&lt;span<br \/>\n data-mce-type=&#8221;bookmark&#8221; style=&#8221;display: inline-block; width: 0px;<br \/>\noverflow: hidden; line-height: 0;&#8221;<br \/>\nclass=&#8221;mce_SELRES_start&#8221;&gt;\ufeff&lt;\/span&gt;<\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3>Milan 2026: Gold, heartbreak and growth<\/h3>\n<p>At the 2026 Winter Olympics, Malinin entered as the favorite in men\u2019s singles. A two-time World Champion and the first skater to land a fully rotated quadruple Axel in international competition, according to the International Skating Union, he had already pushed the sport\u2019s technical limits.<\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-6\"><\/div>\n<p>But Milan did not follow expectations. Malinin finished eighth in the individual event, a surprising result for the gold-medal favorite. Still, he delivered key performances that helped Team USA capture gold in the Olympic team figure skating competition.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter td-animation-stack-type0-2\" src=\"https:\/\/pbs.twimg.com\/media\/HArX7P2bsAAGab-.jpg\" alt=\"Ilia Malinin hugging Alysa Liu after winning the team event gold medal at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games!\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Afterward, he spoke openly about the pressure.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHonestly, it\u2019s not a pleasant feeling\u2026 So many eyes, so much attention. It really can get to you if you\u2019re not ready to fully embrace it,\u201d he said, drawing praise for his honesty about the mental side of elite sport.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, Liu delivered one of the defining performances of the Games. She won two Olympic gold medals, including the women\u2019s individual title, ending a 24-year Olympic gold drought for American women since Sarah Hughes won in 2002.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter td-animation-stack-type0-2\" src=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/resizer\/v2\/ZQ33BGAL3JNXRPR2KOFX2NERKQ.jpg?auth=0cf860cec5f6fd5afbfdd639403ec01cb683fe6aa7430b38012e5a75edac5e96&amp;width=1080&amp;quality=80\" alt=\"Alysa Liu takes gold, Ilia Malinin tumbles at eventful Olympic figure skating competition in Milan | Reuters\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>Her victory marked a powerful comeback.<\/h3>\n<p>Liu became the youngest U.S. women\u2019s national champion at 13. At 16, she stepped away from competition, citing burnout and intense public scrutiny.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI skated every single day. I didn\u2019t get a day off\u2026 I felt traumatized by the obsession others had with everything I ate and drank,\u201d she previously shared.<\/p>\n<p>Two years later, she returned. In 2025, she won the World Championship. Then in Milan, she reclaimed the Olympic stage and changed the narrative of her career.<\/p>\n<p>As a Chinese American athlete who has spoken publicly about experiencing racism earlier in her journey, Liu\u2019s gold carried meaning beyond sport. Analysts described it as both a competitive triumph and a cultural milestone.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter td-animation-stack-type0-2\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.newsweek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/GettyImages-2261966427.jpg?w=1600&amp;h=900&amp;q=88\" alt=\"Olympic Gala Music Revealed: What Alysa Liu and Ilia Malinin Will Skate To\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>A prestigious honor<\/h3>\n<p>Now, both Liu and Malinin are finalists for the 96th James E. Sullivan Award, one of the most prestigious honors in American amateur sports.<\/p>\n<p>Presented annually by the Amateur Athletic Union since 1930, the award recognizes athletic excellence, leadership and character. Past winners include legends like Michael Phelps and Simone Biles, placing the two skaters in rare company.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter td-animation-stack-type0-2\" src=\"https:\/\/image-cdn.essentiallysports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Ilia-Malinin-and-Alysa-Liu.jpg\" alt=\"Alysa Liu, Ilia Malinin Become Finalists for Biggest American Athlete Award After Milan Olympics - EssentiallySports\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Voting remains open until March 5, with the winner set to be announced April 7 at the New York Athletic Club.<\/p>\n<p>This year\u2019s finalist class reflects more than medals. It highlights resilience, transparency and growth \u2014 qualities both skaters showed in Milan.<\/p>\n<p>Malinin expanded the technical ceiling of men\u2019s skating with his quadruple Axel and ambitious seven-quad programs. Liu proved that stepping away does not mean stepping back.<\/p>\n<p>And in that viral clip \u2014 smiling, playful, and at ease \u2014 fans saw something else: two young athletes who, despite pressure and expectations, still love to skate.<\/p>\n<p>For millions watching online, that simple joy may have been the most powerful performance of all.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Two of Team USA\u2019s brightest stars gave fans a moment they won\u2019t soon forget. In a short but joyful clip that has now passed 2 million views,&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7845,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7844","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7844","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7844"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7844\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7846,"href":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7844\/revisions\/7846"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7845"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7844"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7844"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7844"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}