China’s newest skating star landed quad jump at just 12, trains with notorious Russian coach
Alice Liu, 13, is targeting world junior championships next year en route to securing a place at the Winter Olympics
Rising Chinese figure skater Alice Liu Yuxuan is targeting next year’s World Junior Championships and the 2028 Winter Youth Olympics as she prepares to step into junior-level competition for the first time.
The 13-year-old has already made history as the first Chinese women’s singles skater to land a quadruple jump in competition last year, and has trained with Kamila Valieva’s notorious Russian coach Eteri Tutberidze.
The quad jump, which is one of the most difficult elements of figure skating, requires skaters to spin four full times in the air – roughly 1,440 degrees in one jump.
Liu began skating at six after her family brought her to a rink by chance, and she was immediately drawn to the elegance of the sport.
“She thought the children skating on the ice looked beautiful, especially the girls in their competition dresses – like fairies or princesses,” Liu’s mother said. “She watched for a long time and then asked if she could learn too.”