Figure skating-Olympic champion Liu to sit out 2026-27 season

American figure skater Alysa Liu announced on Tuesday that she will take an entire season off from competition to refine her technique. The Olympic gold medalist, who made history as the first American woman to win gold in women's singles at the 2022 Milano Cortina Games, also contributed to the U.S. team winning gold in the team event.

Liu revealed that she wants to challenge herself in new ways to help her artistry and skating evolve. She wrote a social media post expressing her desire for recalibration, stating, "It's important to me that my sport reflects my personal growth." Speaking with NBC Sports, Liu clarified her plans to focus on overall artistry, spins, and jumps during her break, with intentions to return for the 2027-28 season.