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Women's Olympic figure skating champion Alysa Liu has confirmed she will not compete during the 2026-27 season.
Liu, 21, became the first American female since 2002 to win Olympic gold in women's singles in February at the Milano Cortina Games, where she also helped the United States to claim gold in the team event.
But in a post on social media, she said she will be taking a break from competition to work on her technique, meaning she will miss March's World Championships in Finland.
"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 wrote on Instagram.
"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."
In a separate interview with US broadcaster NBC, external, Liu added: "Logically and emotionally and physically, this just makes the most sense.
"I will miss seeing the international competitors at all the international (competitions), but there will be more, so it's fine."
It is not the first break that Liu has taken from the sport.
A former child prodigy, Liu became the youngest US champion ever in 2019 at the age of 13.
However, she announced her retirement from the sport in 2022 when she was just 16, before making a sensational return - by being crowned world champion in her comeback year and then going on to Olympic glory.
