Figure skating is a really strict sport that has a lot of restrictive norms about how people look and how training works. It’s often really hard on the skaters not just cause skating is difficult but because the culture is very high pressure and perfectionistic to an often unhealthy level. I think Alyssa has gotten so much attention because she has broken out of the toxic elements of the sport and is able to really joyfully be herself while still performing at the highest level.

53

she’s cool and fantastic at ice skating and people love her individuality and personality and she did win olympic gold for the US

31

For me, the appeal is that she came back to figure skating for fun because she loves it and now does it on her terms. She’s an incredible example that you don’t have to restrict yourself, in every sense of the term, to be successful in a sport. It can be fun AND you can accomplish tremendous feats

23

shes so incredibly charismatic, of the kind that changes the way things are done. she's what a new wave of art looks and feels like

21

i think it’s that she’s cool/art AND an incredible athlete and you don’t see those two things together a whole lot

13