Figure skating champion Alysa Liu announces year-long competition hiatus
Liu, 21, will skip the 2026-27 season to focus on training and personal growth. She plans to return for the 2027-28 season. The decision follows her recent Olympic and world championship victories.
Liu's announcement marks the second time she has stepped away from competitive skating. After retiring at 16 following the 2022 Beijing Olympics, she enrolled at UCLA, studied psychology, and hiked in the Himalayas before rediscovering her passion during a Lake Tahoe ski trip. Her comeback yielded a 2025 world title and Olympic gold in Milano Cortina, where she landed seven clean triple jumps.
The skater will remain with Bay Area coaches Phillip DiGuglielmo and Massimo Scali during her year away, focusing on artistry, spins, and jumps. Liu, who became the youngest US women's champion at 13, has repeatedly emphasized maintaining control over her career—including music, costumes, and training schedule—since her return.
Liu's hiatus could reshape the competitive landscape of women's figure skating, opening the 2026-27 season for emerging American skaters to gain international experience and visibility. Her decision may also influence how young athletes approach burnout and career longevity, demonstrating that stepping back can coexist with sustained excellence. Fans and sponsors may face a year without the sport's biggest draw, though her planned return could sustain interest and anticipation.