While Taylor Swift never stepped onto the ice during the 2026 Winter Games, gold medalist Alysa Liu is convinced the pop icon was the “lucky charm” behind Team USA’s sensational victory.
During the iHeartRadio Music Awards on Thursday, March 26, the elite figure skater took to the stage to present Swift with the prestigious 2026 Artist of the Year award. While honoring the singer, Liu didn’t hold back her admiration, crowning Swift the undisputed “GOAT of music.”
Liu highlighted Swift’s contribution to the team’s morale, noting how the superstar narrated a powerful introductory video for Liu and her teammates, known as the “Blade Angels.” Standing before an audience that included Swift and her fiancé, Travis Kelce, Liu quipped, “I honestly think that’s the reason we won.”
The 14-time Grammy winner, who dominated the night with seven total wins, accepted the trophy with a heartfelt tribute to the Olympian. “Receiving this from Alysa is such an honor,” Swift remarked during her acceptance speech. “Your performances brought so much light and happiness to me and to everyone watching.”
Swift’s involvement with Team USA was a recurring theme throughout the season. She kicked off her support with a self-filmed video wishing the athletes luck during the opening ceremony in February. Shortly after, she lent her voice to a promotional feature spotlighting the U.S. figure skating squad.
In the narrated segment, Swift introduced Amber Glenn, Alysa Liu, and Isabeau Levito as “three American showgirls on ice” whose stories are as compelling as their athleticism. Speaking specifically of Liu’s comeback, Swift noted, “She stepped away from the sport at 16, only to return on her own terms. She is fueled by joy now. Every jump is a celebration, and every performance is a testament to the power of self-discovery.”
This collaboration followed months of synergy between the artist and the Winter Games; earlier in the season, Swift’s Billboard Hot 100 hit, “The Fate of Ophelia,” served as the cinematic backdrop for the Olympic Games’ primary advertising campaign.
