On Tuesday, August 26, 2026, Olympic gold medallist Alysa Liu announced she will sit out the 2026-27 figure skating season to fine-tune her technique but reassured fans she intends to return to competition.

Liu made history at this year's Milano Cortina Games by becoming the first American woman since 2002 to capture Olympic gold in women's singles. She also contributed to the United States' gold medal in the team event.

In a social media post, Liu expressed her desire to "challenge myself in new ways, so my artistry and skating can evolve," adding she would take time to "recalibrate." She emphasized the importance of her sport reflecting her personal growth and encouraged fans not to worry, saying, "I'll be back, and in the meantime I'll be rooting for my teammates near and far."

During an interview with NBC Sports, Liu detailed her plans to work on her "overall artistry, spins, jumps, everything" during her break and confirmed her intention to return in the 2027-28 season.

Sources