Olympic champion Alysa Liu to take break from competition
Olympic figure skating champion Alysa Liu says she will sit out the 2026-27 season to focus on her technique, skipping next year's World Championships in Finland.
American figure skater Alysa Liu, who in February became the first US woman since 2002 to win Olympic gold in women's singles at the Milano Cortina Games, has announced she will not compete during the 2026-27 season. The 21-year-old also helped Team USA win gold in the team event at those Games.
In a post on Instagram, Liu explained that she plans to use the break to refine her technique and artistry, meaning she will miss March's World Championships in Finland. "I always want to challenge myself in new ways, so my artistry & skating can evolve. It's important to me that my sport reflects my personal growth," she wrote.
She added that she intends to "recalibrate" and "fine-tune things" during her time away, promising a return while cheering on her teammates from the sidelines.
Speaking separately to NBC, Liu said the decision made sense "logically and emotionally and physically." She acknowledged she would miss facing international competitors but noted there would be future opportunities to do so.
This is not the first time Liu has stepped away from skating. A former child prodigy, she became the youngest US champion ever in 2019 at age 13. She announced her retirement in 2022 at 16, only to make a surprise comeback — winning the world title in her return year before going on to claim Olympic gold this year.
