At just barely eight years old, Aalia Cheng, a native Angelino, is already making waves in the figure skating community! Inspired by World Champions and Olympic figure skaters, Aalia is driven by her passion for the sport, the insanely difficult jumps and spins, and the joy of performing in front of audiences.
Aalia’s journey began when her father spotted Olympian Mirai Nagasu at the Burbank Pickwick Skating Rink. This serendipitous moment sparked Aalia’s passion for the sport. She quickly advanced from beginner group classes to mastering high-level spins and jumps with elegance and precision. Winning many of her early competitions, it was clear that figure skating was more than just a hobby for Aalia. "We were amazed by how she expressed herself on the ice," her father recalls. "She had a focus and drive we knew we could harness."
With an unassuming smile that lights up any room, her endearing determination and love for skating are matched only by her palpable energy and eagerness to take on almost any challenge before her - especially with sharp blades creating boundless swirls and lines on ice! Homeschooled and training full time as a young athlete, Aalia’s grace and talent are undeniable. She practices as much, if not more, than athletes much older than herself. Guided by a team of world-class coaches, Aalia trains at the same rinks as her idols, including Pasadena Ice Skating Rink, East West Ice Palace (Artesia), and Burbank’s Pickwick Garden Skating rink.
With unwavering commitment—worthy of a Tony Robbins plug — Aalia is well on her way to achieving her dreams of skating on Team USA and perhaps one day representing the United States at the Olympics!
A Steep Uphill Challenge for U.S. Figure Skating
The U.S. had once dominated the podium standings in figure skating, especially in the Ladies' Singles category. However, since the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City, where the U.S. excelled, there has only been one podium standing for the country — Sasha Cohen's Silver Medal at the 2006 Olympics. The U.S. has also faced challenges at both the World Championships and other international competitions during the same period. With an alarming 95% deficit in podium standings across major events, it’s a tough fact for U.S. Athletics to face, particularly in Ladies’ Figure Skating.
Yet, it will take nothing short (pun intended) of a young, vivacious, and determined skater like Aalia to help reignite national pride and bring back those podium standings to the U.S. — and perhaps even bring "Gold Back to California," the state that has historically sent the most figure skaters to the Olympics.
As a country, we are undoubtedly facing a difficult journey ahead. However, if our youth are prepared to take on the challenge, as Aalia has so brightly exemplified, we too can play our part in helping the future generation of lady figure skaters reach their full potential. Find a local rink and support young skaters like Aalia and their families, who are on a mission to bring prestige, pride, and medals back to the U.S.A.
A Future Star on the Rise
In just two years, Aalia has made remarkable progress. She is now nearing the end of her "doubles journey," having landed five out of six challenging double jumps, with only the Double Axel remaining. The Axel is famously difficult, most notably associated with the groundbreaking U.S. skater Tonya Harding, the first American woman to land a Triple Axel in competition.
When asked about her favorite move, Aalia’s face lights up: "The Double Axel!" The Double Axel is a notoriously difficult jump requiring a 2.5-rotation forward takeoff. While Aalia has not yet landed it, her love for practicing the move speaks to her tenacity and drive.
Before pursuing the Double Axel, Aalia focused on the Biellmann spin, named after 11-time world champion Denise Biellmann. This advanced spin, which requires extreme flexibility and strength, took Aalia nearly a year of hard work, ballet training, and off-ice exercises good enough to include in her program in recent competitions. Aalia is determined to keep learning, evolving this spin worthy of national and international competitions in the future. Her continued dedication to refining this iconic move is a testament to her skill and perseverance.
Inspired by the Best
Aalia draws inspiration from a wide range of skaters. She credits Mirai Nagasu for starting her journey and shares a membership with her at the Pasadena Figure Skating Club. Mirai was also the first U.S. woman to land a Triple Axel at the Olympics. Aalia also admires U.S. figure skating legends Michelle Kwan and Alysa Liu, as well as international stars like Ilia Malinin, Nathan Chen, Yuzuru Hanyu, Kaori Sakamoto, and Minsoi Kwon. Her ultimate idol, however, is Alexandra "Sasha" Trusova, a Russian skater known for her power and groundbreaking quad jumps.
Balancing Training and School
Aalia’s dedication extends beyond the rink. She balances her homeschooling with intense training—spending 2-3 hours on the ice and 1-2 hours off-ice each day, at least five to six days a week. Despite the challenges, Aalia remains committed to her goal of mastering the double axel and starting in on her triple jumps within the next year.
At just 4 feet tall, Aalia may be young, but her journey is already filled with incredible milestones. Her fierce determination and exceptional work ethic set her apart as a skater destined for greatness.
"My dream is to skate for Team USA and land a quad Axel like Ilia," says Aalia. "People say girls can’t land it, so I want to prove them wrong." She is inspired by her father, a disabled U.S. Marine veteran, and her mother, a self-employed businesswoman and former nurse from Japan. Both support Aalia's rigorous training and dreams of Olympic glory.
Supporting Young Skaters through Aalia's Dream
Aalia’s love for figure skating has inspired her family to launch Aalia’s Dream, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to helping the skating community; with a focus on those from underprivileged backgrounds access the resources they need to succeed. The organization provides financial assistance for coaching, ice time, and equipment, ensuring that no child is held back from pursuing their dream of skating.
Asked, what is Your Dream, "My dream is to land a quad Axel and compete in the Olympics one day. I want to show everyone that anything is possible if you don’t give up," Aalia says.
With young talents like Aalia leading the way, the future of U.S. figure skating looks brighter than ever. Follow her inspiring journey on social media and through Aalia’s Dream, where you can witness her progress and support her path to greatness.
"When working with Aalia every day, it’s evident that she shows all of the determination and dedication necessary to reach high levels of this sport. Despite her young age, she has shown up to the rink every day never backing down from the rigors and demands of both the training regiment and the spotlight of each competition. When you see that fire in an athlete’s eye to achieve something monumental, you know that a bright future is up ahead. I’m looking forward to working with her and seeing her reach these ambitious goals." — Shotaro Omori, Aalia’s Main Coach, Team Enso Edge
Follow Aalia’s Journey:
Aalia's Dream: https://www.aaliasdream.org/
Aalia's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aaliacheng?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
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