Alysa Liu to skip 2026-27 figure skating season

American figure skater Alysa Liu, the reigning Olympic champion in women's singles, announced on August 25 that she will take a hiatus from competition for the upcoming 2026-27 season. The two-time gold medalist from the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics stated she intends to use the time to focus on her personal growth and artistic development before returning to the sport.

In a statement posted to her Instagram account, Liu wrote, "While people are announcing programs, imma take this time to announce that I will not be competing this season." She explained her decision by saying, "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." Liu assured fans of her return, adding, "Fear not, I'll be back, and in the meantime I'll be rooting for my teammates near and far."

In an interview with NBC Sports, the 21-year-old elaborated on her plans for the break. She said she will continue training with her Bay Area coaches, Phillip DiGuglielmo and Massimo Scali, working on "overall artistry, spins, jumps, everything." Liu emphasized that the decision was a logical one made after assessing...