Women's Olympic figure skating champion Alysa Liu has announced she will not compete during the 2026-27 season. The 21-year-old confirmed her decision in a social media post, stating she plans to take a break from competition to refine her technique.
Liu, who became the first American female since 2002 to win Olympic gold in women's singles at the Milano Cortina Games in February, also contributed to the United States' gold in the team event. Her absence from the upcoming season means she will miss March's World Championships in Finland.
In her Instagram post, Liu explained, "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 added, "I'm gonna take the time to recalibrate, fine-tune things & whatnot. So fear not, I'll be back, & in the meantime I'll be rooting for my teammates near & far." Speaking to NBC, Liu also stated that this decision "logically and emotionally and physically, this just makes the most sense."