Alysa competed and finished sixth at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. Just months later, she shocked the sporting world by announcing her retirement at the incredibly young age of 16.

However, she made the decision to return to the ice in June 2024 with one major condition: she would do things entirely on her own terms. That renewed approach ultimately led to her capturing two Olympic gold medals at this year’s Milano-Cortina Games last February, securing victories in both the team event and the women’s singles.

Looking back on his eldest daughter’s career, Arthur said there was one thing he regretted regarding her earlier training, which is forcing Alysa to relocate to the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs months before the 2022 games, rather than allowing her to stay in their family’s Northern California home.

“I took her to Colorado Springs, and I left her there,” Arthur told USA Todaynoting that he was raising five children while also running his law practice at the time. “During that period of time, I wasn’t there for her.”

Arthur continued his reflection, noting that she was incredibly upset and homesick.

“But then I was thinking, when I was 14, I went to boarding school. I survived,” Athur added. “I felt like [Alysa] can survive this, too. But not knowing that she hated it. I did not know until she came home.

“In retrospect, I feel I made a mistake. She started to hate skating and stuff until she quit.”

Two years later, when Alysa decided to return, Arthur respected her wishes to have absolute control over her training. This shift was something he also grew to appreciate, as stepping back allowed him to dedicate more time and energy to his four younger children. He also made the decision to step down from any coaching roles in her career, The Independent reported.

“She said, ‘I’m coming back. I’m going to do my terms,’” Arthur recalled. “I was like, yes, go ahead and do it your own way. Because I mean, as a father, I love her and I want to support her. But there’s only this much I can do. I’m just one person. I’m very tired by the end of the day.

“Just work and the kids and everything. I just want to relax a little. I don’t have to worry too much about her 1773705503. That’s great. You want me to be hands-off? That’s great. Even though you hurt a little bit to hear that.”

At this year’s Winter Games, Alysa initially landed in third place after receiving a score of 76.59 in the short program, trailing closely behind Japan’s Ami Nakai and Kaori Sakamoto.

However, the 20-year-old bumped her way up to the gold medal position, setting a massive season’s best of 150.20 points after skating her free program to Donna Summer’s “MacArthur Park” and finishing nearly four points clear of her previous personal best.