Alysa Liu, the 21-year-old Olympic figure skating champion, confirmed she will not compete during the 2026-27 season to focus on refining her technique and evolving her artistry [1, 2, 3]. Liu won Olympic gold in women’s singles at the 2026 Milano Cortina Games, becoming the first American woman since 2002 to claim that title. She also helped the U.S. secure the team gold there [1, 3].
Liu announced her decision on social media in August 2026, saying she wants to grow both personally and artistically. "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 said [1]. 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" [1].
This break is not Liu’s first. She retired temporarily in 2022 at age 16 but returned to become both world and Olympic champion [1, 2]. For the current hiatus, Liu will work closely with longtime coaches Phillip DiGuglielmo and Massimo Scali to improve her overall artistry, spins, and jumps [2, 3].
"Logically and emotionally and physically, this just makes the most sense," Liu said about her decision [1]. She emphasized the importance of trusting her instincts, stating, "I just felt this was right" [3]. Also, "I really want to improve my skating, and I wanted to take the time to do that for myself and just to evolve. And then I’ll be back after that is done," she said [2].
Liu plans to return to competition in the 2027-28 season, resuming her pursuit of further titles and artistic growth [2, 3].
