Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu announced she would take a break from the 2026-27 figure skating season, planning to return for the 2027-28 season. Liu expressed her desire to focus on personal growth and fine-tuning her skills during this period. She stated, “While people are announcing programs, I’m taking this time to announce that I will not be competing this season. I always want to challenge myself in new ways, so my artistry and skating can evolve. It’s important to me that my sport reflects my personal growth.” She assured fans she would return and support her teammates during her hiatus.
In a recent interview, Liu shared her intentions to continue training and improving her overall artistry, including spins and jumps. She emphasized her commitment to evolving her skating skills and supporting her teammates. Liu described her decision as logical, emotional, and physical, feeling it was the right time to step back.
Liu assessed her feelings, saying, “I just felt this was right. So I’m trusting my instincts.”
Liu’s coaches, Phillip DiGuglielmo and Massimo Scali, supported her decision, understanding where she came from. As she explained, “I came to them, and they totally understood where I was coming from. I did have to explain a little bit, but they didn’t think I needed to justify my reason.”
Liu gained significant popularity following her success at the Olympics, with her agents overwhelmed by the demand. Liu, 21, became the first American to win Olympic women’s singles gold since 2002 in Milan. Her victory led to various opportunities that kept her busy, even resulting in her missing the World Championships in March after her 2025 title win.
Outside of competition, Liu participated in the nationwide Stars on Ice tour, shared moments with celebrities such as Taylor Swift, appeared in a music video for Laufey, and attended Paris Fashion Week. Liu had previously retired at 16 after her Olympic debut in 2022, returning in 2024 with renewed passion, winning the world title in 2025.
Alysa Liu expressed gratitude for her journey and the people she encountered, emphasizing her love for skating. She initially planned to compete at Saatva Skate America in Everett, Washington, but her break will see her skipping the event.
Despite not competing, Liu plans to remain involved in figure skating. She said, “I always want to support my teammates, so I’ll be around. I won’t be radio silent, and whatever opportunity arises, I will probably be there to support in some way.”