24 Feb 2026

Gold tones / Green leaves

Zito Madu on joy and Alysa Liu; a literary trip to African forests with Kọ́lá Túbọ̀sún

Today: Zito Madu, a journalist and author of The Minotaur at Calle Lanza; and Kọ́lá Túbọ̀sún, Nigerian writer, linguist, co-editor of Best Literary Translations, founder of Olongo Africa, and writer and producer of the documentary, Ebrohimie Road.

Issue No. 509

Exalted Victors
Zito Madu

African Forests Transformed
Kọ́lá Túbọ̀sún

Exalted Victors

by Zito Madu

When an Olympic ice skater finishes a routine, what you usually see on their flushed faces looks more like relief than anything else, especially when they’ve managed to get to the end without falling or making mistakes. Which is understandable, given the difficulty of what they have to do and the pressure of representing one’s country and having a once in a lifetime chance to prove themselves on the biggest international stage. They glide off the ice exhausted and with an eye on the camera, anxious about the score. They put a sleek, professional smile on, keep it there even when the score is lower than they want or need it to be. They know they can’t truly show disappointment or anger, maintaining an air of happiness even as they struggle not to crumble under the immense pressures of the moment. Sometimes even their greatest joys can feel a bit hollow, or forced, because they’re not allowed to be anything else. They have to continue being controlled, locked into the performance of being an Olympic athlete—wearing happiness like a part of their costume, an illusion for the viewers to buy into, even if we know it’s all a show.

But with the millions of other people around the world who watched Alysa Liu win the gold medal in the women’s individual free skate at the Winter Olympics four days ago, becoming the first American female figure skater to win the event since 2002, I was mesmerized by the joy and sense of freedom at the heart of her unusual performance. What was so impressive wasn’t just her technical ability—which was abundantly clear even to casual fans, who couldn’t imagine doing anything she did, as much as it was to the judges—the wondrous part was that she seemed to be having fun. Not performing having fun, or playing into the theater of her routine, but genuinely enjoying herself, an impression that lasted long after her historic performance was done.