Alysa Liu of the United States competes during the women’s figure skating short program at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Feb. 17, 2026. The Olympic athletes are the subject of uncomfortable public comparisons that present online narratives that overlap more than both sides may realize. (Doug Mills/The New York Times) By LI YUAN People on social media in China and the West can’t stop comparing Alysa Liu and Eileen Gu, two of the biggest stars at the Winter Olympics….
