Coco Gauff, like the rest of the world, was gripped by the Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina.
While playing events in Doha and Dubai, Gauff kept track of the Games in Italy.
Team USA finished second in the medal table with 12 golds.
Ahead of Indian Wells, Gauff was asked the following question.
“How closely were you following the Olympics? And if any particular event or winner stood out to you? Also, if any quotes or something that any of the athletes stood out to you?” a reporter asked.
Coco Gauff was ‘super inspired’ by Alysa Liu’s story
“Yeah, I think obviously Alysa’s story,” said Gauff.
“There’s not even a quote; she had so many good ones. I think her whole story was super inspiring, and I think I could highly relate as someone who was very young put into a sport.
“I wouldn’t say I have faced burnout, but there are times you’re mentally just tired of it, and you feel like you’re doing stuff and you don’t know why.
“So I definitely could relate to her whole story.
“I was happy to see her be that voice saying the unsaid things that athletes think but are maybe scared to say.”
Liu retired from figure skating in 2021 due to burnout and restrictive coaching.
Returning three years later on her own terms, Liu set her sights on Olympic gold.
Accomplishing her goal, Liu won two gold medals in Milan Cortina.
“Who else,” said Gauff.
“Eileen Gu is someone I follow on Instagram and we’ve interacted.
“I’ve never met her, but she speaks so well.
“Obviously, she’s super smart. I think she’s one of those people you don’t want your parents to find out about because she’s so accomplished, and they’re, like, What are you doing? I could be a Grand Slam winner. And my mom is, like, she graduated from Stanford and did all this stuff.
“Yeah, so her, as well.”
Representing Team China, Eileen Gu won a gold medal in women’s halfpipe at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Gauff also shared her thoughts on Lindsey Vonn, who chose to compete in Milan Cortina, despite injuring herself on the eve of the tournament.
“And then obviously it was unfortunate to see everything that went on with Lindsey, but I think still for her to take that leap of faith was still inspiring,” she said.
Vonn crashed in her first competitive run and was airlifted to a local hospital.
Coco Gauff reacts to Team USA’s hockey gold medals
The American shared her thoughts on Team USA’s gold medal triumphs on the ice.
“There were a few stories that I followed. And obviously, the hockey, women’s and men’s hockey was really cool to watch,” said Gauff.
“I had never watched hockey before, but I was watching, and I was excited.
“Maybe I’ll get into it.”
Both American teams won gold in ice hockey at this year’s Games.
Gauff has been keeping up with the action in Milan, but now has her sights firmly set on Indian Wells.
The two-time Grand Slam champion will play Bianca Andreescu or Kamilla Rakhimova in the second round later this week.
