Why it's so refreshing that Olympic champion Alysa Liu, who quit skating at 16, says she didn't 'need' a gold medal

"I don't need this [medal],"

"But what I needed was the stage and I got that, so I was all good. No matter what happened."

"That's what I'm f-ing talking about!"

Alysa Liu, 20, from California, quit skating at 16 and later won the first individual Olympic gold in women's figure skating for the United States in 24 years. She said she did not need a medal and that performing on the stage was what mattered. Liu delivered a flawless long program to Donna Summer's "MacArthur Park," and reacted with exuberant celebration, cheering competitors, jumping on the podium, squealing, and hugging rivals. The victory reflected a focus on joy and love for the sport rather than medal-seeking, marking an unconventional journey compared with most young athletes.

Read at Fast Company