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Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu shared a terrifying experience she had at an airport on social media early Thursday.
Liu wrote on her Instagram Stories that she was mobbed by people with cameras and to get things signed before someone “chased” her to her car. She asked fans to refrain from doing so.
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Alysa Liu of the United States competes in the women’s singles short program during the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at the Milan Ice Skating Arena on February 6, 2026. (James Lang/Imagn Images)
“So I land at the airport and there’s a crowd waiting at the exit with cameras and stuff for me to sign,” she wrote. “Right up in my personal space. Someone chased me to my car brush.
“Please don’t do that to me.”
Liu, 20, went from Olympic hopeful to gold medalist within a few months when she won the women’s figure skating competition at the Cortina Games in Milan. Liu’s electrifying performance dazzled audiences in Italy and had Americans at home raving about her.
It was the second of two gold medals she received during the Games. She was part of the figure skating competition team that won gold early in the Olympics.
Gold medalist Alysa Liu of the United States displays her medal after competing in the women’s free skate program in figure skating at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
She is far from the only professional athlete who has had to deal with raving fans at the airport. Most notably, pro wrestlers have been outspoken about similar issues.
WWE star Rhea Ripley described a tense airport situation in March 2023.
Ripley explained the situation to USA Network when she bumped into one fan in particular at the airport and after refusing to sign anything, she was followed, prompting others to join.
Alysa Liu of the United States arrives to compete during the women’s free figure skating program at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
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“I don’t think people understand how threatening it is,” she said at the time. “Especially because you don’t know what’s going to happen. I don’t know these people.”
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