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Olympic champion Alysa Liu announces break from competitive figure skating

The American gold medalist will miss the 2026-27 season, including the World Championships, to focus on her technique and personal growth.

Updated Aug 26, 2026 · 17:29 UTC1 reports

The short version

Olympic figure skating champion Alysa Liu announced she will not compete during the 2026-27 season.
The 21-year-old will miss the upcoming World Championships in Finland, but stated on social media that she plans to return to competition in the future.
Liu is taking the hiatus to refine her technique, focus on her artistry, and support her personal development.

Alysa Liu announced via Instagram that she is taking a break from competitive figure skating for the 2026-27 season.[BBC News]
Due to the hiatus, Liu will miss the World Championships scheduled for March in Finland.[BBC News]
Liu won both individual gold and team gold at the Milano Cortina Games in February, becoming the first American female singles skater to win Olympic gold since 2002.[BBC News]
This is Liu's second major break from the sport; she previously retired in 2022 at age 16 before returning to win a world championship and Olympic gold.[BBC News]
Liu became the youngest U.S. champion in history in 2019 when she won the national title at age 13.[BBC News]

The exact date of Liu's return to competitive figure skating remains unspecified, though she confirmed on social media that she will be back.[BBC News]