After winning Olympic gold this past winter, figure skater Alysa Liu announced that she will be taking the year off in order to ‘recalibrate’ after a whirlwind 2026.
Liu posted a message to her Instagram followers on Tuesday afternoon, revealing that she will be stepping back from competition in the 2026-27 calendar.
‘To my supporters, While people are announcing programs, imma take this time to announce that I will not be competing this season,’ Liu shared.
‘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.
‘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. See yall soon!’
Liu captured the hearts of the nation and the world – becoming a figure skating and Gen-Z icon after winning gold in Milan.
American figure skater Alysa Liu will be taking the 2026-27 season off after winning gold
Liu became the first American woman to win gold in the singles skate since 2002
Liu has since become an Olympic and Gen-Z icon and has made multiple media appearances
Liu’s free skate performance, soundtracked by Donna Summer’s disco take on ‘MacArthur Park’, was one of the most memorable sporting moments of 2026.
Her youthful joy and flawless technical execution scored her a 150.20 in the free skate and pushed her to the top of the podium.
She became the first American woman to win gold in the women’s singles figure skating event since Sarah Hughes stood atop the podium in Salt Lake City in 2002.
In the months following her gold medal victory, Liu has become an icon in the world of sports and fashion.
She was spotted at the Met Gala and has appeared in photoshoots for magazines, including Teen Vogue.
Liu, who previously quit the sport due to the stress of competition, doesn’t seem to be ending her career. However, earlier this year, she backed out of competing in the World Championships less than a month after the Olympics.
