Megan Basham

They're celebrating what it symbolizes.

And that's a sense of strong American identity.

Yeah, I mean, when you look at her, once again, this is a story that is much more than medals.

She skated with this openness, with just unequivocal American authenticity, right?

And I think that's what resonated so deeply with people.

Viewers saw this young athlete who carried herself with humility, with joy, with visible love for country.

And I think Lou's success was particularly poignant when contrasted against skier Eileen Gu, who, though born an American, agreed to skate for China.

So I think that made Lou's victory all the sweeter.

And certainly her performances were emotional.

They were technically strong.

And they were original.

So that when she finished her program...

The reaction, it wasn't just applause.

Like you said, it was this overwhelming sense of affection.

Yeah, I think if you scripted this, it couldn't be more on point to just make everyone love her as an Olympic figure.

Her father, Arthur Liu, was born and raised in China and became a student activist during the pro-democracy movement during the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests.

Now, he was faced with the threat of imprisonment or worse for standing up to the Chinese communist government.

He fled China, sneaking onto a boat bound for Hong Kong.

before then eventually making his way to the United States as a political refugee.

Incredible.