'Harry Potter' Star's Classy Act Toward Alysa Liu Catches Attention
'Harry Potter' Star's Classy Act Toward Alysa Liu Catches Attention
Madz DizonTue, March 3, 2026 at 2:35 AM UTC
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In a heartwarming backstage moment on TODAY, actor Daniel Radcliffe met two-time Winter Olympics gold medalist Alysa Liu, leaving fans awed by his thoughtful gesture.
The 36-year-old Harry Potter star made headlines not just for meeting the 20-year-old figure skater, but for the way he handled her gold medal.
Videos shared by TODAY captured Liu’s amazement as Radcliffe entered the room, greeted her with a hug, a high-five and snapped a few selfies together. Liu even offered Radcliffe the chance to wear her gold medal, but he politely declined.
“It feels like stolen valor,” Radcliffe joked, choosing instead to hold the medal for a photo.
Alysa Liu of Team United States competes in Women's Single Skating - Free Skating on day thirteen of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games.Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
“You being you was the most joyful thing I’ve watched,” Radcliffe told Liu, praising her performance at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.
Liu’s fans and online commenters quickly praised Radcliffe’s respectful decision.
“If only other public figures felt like wearing Olympians’ medals felt like stolen valor 👀,” one wrote.
Another said, “I'm so glad he decided to not put it on, that's how it should be!”
Many were impressed, saying, “I'm impressed with how respectful Daniel was of her achievement and how that is represented by the medal!”
One succinctly echoed the actor’s words: “Wearing it seems like stolen valor PERFECT!!!”
Another admired the grace of the moment: “How gracious… ‘stolen valor.’”
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One fan highlighted the thoughtfulness: “I love that he was thoughtful enough to not wear it. Respect.”
The U.S. Figure Skating account also playfully noted, “Gold snitch catcher 🤝 gold medalist,” comparing Radcliffe’s iconic Harry Potter role to Liu’s Olympic success.
Alysa Liu's Olympic Triumph
Liu won her first gold in the team event on Feb. 8 and later claimed individual gold for her free skate to Donna Summer’s “MacArthur Park” on Feb. 19. This made her the first American woman to win Olympic singles gold in 24 years.
Despite her incredible achievement, Liu remains grounded. She told TODAY, “If I mess up and do a horrible program, I would totally be OK with that, actually. So there's nothing to be nervous about.”
The skater has already returned to the ice in a light, non-intensive way, stating, “Little bits here and there. Not serious training.”
Yet, she is preparing to compete at the 2026 ISU World Championships in Prague later this month, aiming to become the first American woman to repeat as world champion since Michelle Kwan in 2000-2001.
Since the Olympics, Liu has returned to her hometown of Oakland, California, and embraced her newfound fame, gaining over five million Instagram followers. Several murals have been unveiled in her honor.
Despite this fame, Liu stays focused on skating and joyfully looks toward the future, hinting at potential participation in the 2030 Winter Olympics in France. “Yeah, I mean, I like France, I think. So, yeah, I would like to,” Liu said.
Fans are likely to remember Radcliffe’s kindness as much as Liu’s gold-medal victory.
Related: Suni Lee Has One Word After Alysa Liu's Moment at Winter Olympics
This story was originally published by Parade on Mar 3, 2026, where it first appeared in the Celebs section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
