How Jack Hughes and Alysa Liu’s 2019 Letters Predicted Their 2026 Olympic Gold Triumphs
MILAN — Long before they stood on the highest steps of the Olympic podium in Italy, two of America’s brightest young athletes penned messages to their future selves filled with hope, ambition and vivid dreams of sporting glory. On Monday, those once-innocent letters — written in 2019 — now resonate like remarkably accurate predictions of destiny fulfilled.
At just 18 and 13 years old, respectively, Jack Hughes and Alysa Liu were rising stars in their sports when they wrote candid reflections about their goals, aspirations and the careers they envisioned for themselves. Seven years later, both have etched their names in Olympic lore with stunning gold-medal performances at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, turning youthful optimism into reality.
From Letter to Legacy: Jack Hughes’s Golden Moment
Long before the buzz of NHL draft day or the roar of Olympic crowd, Hughes — now 24 and an NHL standout — imagined himself representing the United States on sport’s biggest stage. In his 2019 letter, written as he prepared to go first overall in the NHL Draft, the young forward envisioned unforgettable moments skating alongside his brothers, Quinn and Luke, and even dreamed of Olympic gold.
“Maybe we all represented the United States at the Olympics … Maybe we won a gold medal (or gold medals) together. What an honor that would be,” Hughes wrote, capturing a future that not only came true but did so in dramatic fashion.
On Sunday, Hughes delivered perhaps the defining moment of the men’s ice hockey tournament, scoring the overtime goal that clinched a 2-1 victory over Canada and secured Team USA’s first Olympic men’s hockey gold since 1980. The goal — a breathtaking culmination of years of dedication and perseverance — fulfilled the youthful prophecy Hughes once scripted for his own eyes.
The game itself tested the American forward’s mettle. Hughes played through pain, even losing two front teeth after a high-stick incident during the match — yet he stood as the hero who delivered the golden goal that fans and teammates will remember for years.
Alysa Liu’s Dream Realized on the Ice
Parallel to Hughes’s story of on-ice heroics is the remarkable comeback of Alysa Liu, the American figure skating prodigy whose early career promised greatness long before she stepped onto the Olympic stage. At 13, Liu’s letter to her future self was one rooted in passion and relentless focus — an honest reflection of an athlete chasing perfection one jump at a time.
Liu’s journey to Olympic gold was anything but linear. After bursting onto the U.S. figure skating scene and becoming the youngest national champion, she stepped away from competition, retreating from the sport in search of joy and balance. Her return — grounded in self-determination and creative control over her routines — culminated in a breathtaking performance that earned her the women’s singles gold medal at the 2026 Games, ending a U.S. Olympic gold drought in that event.
Her commanding free skate, characterized by technical brilliance and artistic confidence, not only won her the title but also validated the commitment and resilience that were already sketched in her 2019 letter.
A Shared Narrative of Ambition and Achievement
The ESPN project that encouraged Hughes and Liu to write to their future selves has become an unlikely time capsule, offering a glimpse into the dreams that shaped two elite athletes. Both letters convey more than mere aspirations — they reflect deep belief, personal identity and the kind of ambition that insists on realization.
In revisiting those written words after the triumphs of 2026, the trajectory from youthful ambition to Olympic achievement feels almost poetic. For Hughes, it was the golden goal that sealed USA hockey history; for Liu, it was the flawless performance that redefined her sport’s narrative for American audiences.
Looking Forward
As both champions reflect on their journeys, their 2019 letters now serve as reminders of the power of long-term vision and unwavering commitment — a testament to what is possible when passion is matched by perseverance. Whether young athletes write letters to themselves or pursue their goals in other ways, the stories of Hughes and Liu demonstrate that greatness often begins with a simple dream, penned on paper and carried through years of effort.
