Olympic Champion Liu Withdraws
Olympic champion Alysa Liu, who made history as the first American woman since 2006 to win the world title, has withdrawn from the upcoming World Figure Skating Championships. Liu recently won Olympic gold and was considered a favorite for repeat success, making her absence a significant blow to Team USA.
Liu's withdrawal comes after a triumphant return to the sport following a nearly two-year retirement. She had stepped away from competitive skating at age 16 after the 2022 Beijing Olympics, citing burnout and a desire to live a normal teenage life. Her recent Olympic victory in Milano Cortina ended a 24-year gold medal drought for American women in individual figure skating, with the last win belonging to Sarah Hughes in 2002. Liu also secured a gold medal in the team event at the same games. A prodigious talent, Liu became the youngest-ever U.S. national champion at 13 in 2019. She is also the first American woman to land a quadruple Lutz in competition and the first to perform a quad jump and a triple Axel in the same program. The decision to skip the World Championships is not uncommon for top skaters after the intensity of an Olympic season. Liu had hinted at the possibility of not competing, emphasizing her desire for a break. Sarah Everhardt will replace Liu on the U.S. team for the championships in Prague. Everhardt is the 2025 U.S. national bronze medalist and a four-time Challenger Series medalist. Liu's comeback has been characterized by a focus on her own terms and a desire to find joy in skating again. This approach has resonated with many and has been seen as a positive example of prioritizing mental health in elite sports.
