Entertainment
Alysa Liu to pause figure skating competition for 2026-27 season
The American Olympic champion plans to train and focus on artistry before returning to competition for the 2027-28 season.
The short version
- Olympic and world champion figure skater Alysa Liu announced she will sit out the 2026-27 competitive season to focus on her personal growth and artistry.
- The 21-year-old plans to continue training with her Bay Area coaches and return to competition for the 2027-28 season.
- As a result of the break, Liu will not compete in scheduled events such as Skate America in November 2026.
Key facts
- Alysa Liu announced via social media that she will skip the 2026-27 figure skating season to recalibrate and work on her overall artistry, spins, and jumps away from competition.[The Guardian]
- Liu plans to return for the 2027-28 season while continuing to train with her Bay Area coaches, Phillip DiGuglielmo and Massimo Scali.[The Guardian]
- The decision withdraws Liu from scheduled events, including Skate America in Everett, Washington, set for November 13-15, 2026.[The Guardian]
- Liu previously retired at age 16 following the 2022 Beijing Olympics before returning to win the 2025 world championship as well as women's singles and team gold medals at the February 2026 Winter Games in Milan.[The Guardian]
What remains uncertain
- While Liu has stated her intention to return to competitive skating for the 2027-28 season, her exact return date and schedule remain unconfirmed.[The Guardian]