Alisa Liu’s Surreal Experience with Espionage
At just 16 years old, Alisa Liu found herself in an unexpected situation when she learned from an FBI agent, over dinner at a Japanese restaurant, that her family was under surveillance by the Chinese government.
This revelation came as Liu prepared to compete in figure skating at the Beijing Winter Olympics—a significant occasion since it marked her first trip to her father’s homeland. Arthur Liu had fled China as a refugee many years prior, and their family had become a target due to past activism tied to the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests.
Alisa recounted the situation, mentioning it felt “a little weird and exciting.” She reflected, “It’s just so… unbelievable. You know what I mean? It’s crazy,” during a roundtable at the USOPC Media Summit.
“Imagine discovering that at such a young age. I thought, ‘Am I on some prank show?’ It felt surreal. But considering everything my dad dealt with as an activist, it made sense,” she noted.
Alisa remembered discussing details with the FBI agent and felt a strong sense of curiosity and fascination. “We talked a lot over dinner; I mean, who gets to meet an FBI agent? That’s not a common event for most people,” she remarked.
Throughout the entire ordeal, she said that the FBI provided a sense of safety.
In November 2021, Matthew Gibris was indicted for allegedly spying on Chinese dissidents in the U.S., reaching out to Arthur Liu by pretending to be part of the USOPC. He requested sensitive information, including passport numbers, according to reports at the time.
Gibris allegedly traveled to their home in California, conducted surveillance, and sought to gather personal information for the Chinese government. Alisa’s father expressed concern that this was an intimidation tactic meant to silence their family’s political voice regarding human rights in China, but he praised the U.S. government’s response in keeping Alisa safe.
Despite the circumstances, Alisa completed her events in Beijing with heightened security, always having at least two bodyguards with her.
She finished sixth in the women’s singles and contributed to Team USA’s team bronze medal. Following the Beijing Games, she made a surprising retirement but later returned in 2024, quickly rising to claim the title at the World Figure Skating Championships, becoming the first American woman to do so since 2006.
As she looks ahead, Alisa is focused on the upcoming Milan-Cortina Olympics, eager to create more memorable moments.
Interestingly, she mentioned the idea of her life’s experiences being turned into a movie. “They would have to portray me as a super cool hero,” she joked, adding that her father’s story should take center stage because it’s equally compelling.
