Alysa Liu revealed that Taylor Swift played a role in her Olympic success while presenting Artist of the Year at the iHeartRadio Music Awards 2026 on March 26. The 20-year-old Team USA figure skater spoke on stage just weeks after her standout performance at the 2026 Winter Olympics in February.
Liu captured gold in women’s singles and also helped secure victory for Team USA in the team event. During her speech, Liu pointed to an Olympic introduction video narrated by Swift, which featured her alongside fellow U.S. skaters Amber Glenn and Isabeau Levito, a trio known as the ‘Blade Angels.’
“She is the G.O.A.T. of music,” Liu said. “She lent her voice and music by narrating a video introducing me and the other ‘Blade Angels.’ I gotta say, I think that’s why we won.”
The video, which debuted ahead of competition in Milan, opened with silhouettes of the skaters as Swift narrated their stories. Liu credited the powerful introduction as part of the momentum that fueled Team USA’s success at the Games.
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Cameras caught Taylor Swift in the audience reacting to the shoutout alongside her fiancé, Travis Kelce. Swift covered her face and appeared visibly surprised as Liu delivered the tribute on stage.
Liu’s Olympic triumph marked a historic milestone. She became the first American woman to win Olympic gold in figure skating since Sarah Hughes in 2002.
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Taylor Swift’s narration highlighted each skater’s journey. She described Amber Glenn’s resilience, Liu’s return to the sport after stepping away at age 16, and Isabeau Levito’s personal connection to Milan.
“As for Alysa, she walked away from skating when she was 16, then came back on her own terms. Joy fuels her now. Every jump, a celebration. Every performance, a testament to the beauty to know yourself,” Swift said in the clip.
The singer referred to the trio as “three American showgirls on ice,” linking the theme to her album The Life of a Showgirl. The video concluded by introducing them as teammates preparing to compete on the Olympic stage.
Swift attended the ceremony with Kelce in their first joint awards show appearance. She entered the night with nine nominations and won seven awards, including Album of the Year and Pop Song of the Year.
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Liu, who previously stepped away from competitive skating after the 2022 Beijing Olympics, returned to the sport and secured two gold medals in Milan, reinforcing her position as a leading figure in U.S. figure skating.
