Olympic champion Alysa Liu has withdrawn from the upcoming World Figure Skating Championships, scheduled to begin March 24 at O2 Arena. The 20-year-old American, who recently captured Olympic gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, will skip the event following a demanding Olympic season. Her absence opens a spot on the U.S. team for Sarah Everhardt.
Event Summary
Liu was expected to compete alongside fellow American skaters Amber Glenn and Isabeau Levito when the world championships begin in Prague later this month.
Bradie Tennell had initially been named the first alternate but declined the invitation, leading U.S. Figure Skating to add Everhardt to the roster.
Liu entered the event as the defending world champion after winning the title in Boston last year. That victory made her the first American woman to claim the world title since Kimmie Meissner in 2006.
Statistical & Career Context
Liu’s withdrawal comes shortly after one of the most successful stretches of her career. At the 2026 Winter Olympics, she delivered the United States’ first women’s Olympic figure skating gold medal since Sarah Hughes won the event in 2002.
She also earned a second gold medal in the Olympic team competition, helping the United States defend its title alongside teammates including Glenn.
The 20-year-old’s career path has been unconventional. Liu initially retired following the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, citing burnout after years of elite competition. She returned to the sport two years later and quickly re-established herself among the world’s top skaters.
Athlete Profile and Impact
Beyond competitive success, Liu has gained attention for her distinctive personality and style within the sport. Her unconventional aesthetic — including a streaked haircut and facial piercing — contrasts with the traditional image historically associated with women’s figure skating.
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Observers have noted that her more relaxed approach since returning to competition has coincided with some of the strongest performances of her career.
Standings & Competition Implications
Liu’s absence reshapes the women’s field in Prague. Glenn and Levito remain the primary U.S. contenders, while Everhardt gains an opportunity to compete at her first senior world championships.
The world championships will also proceed without several other prominent athletes. Olympic pairs champions Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara of Japan have withdrawn, as have Italy’s Sara Conti and Niccolò Macii.
Belgium’s Loena Hendrickx also opted out following an injury-affected season that culminated in a 14th-place Olympic finish.
Skipping the world championships after the Olympics is a common decision among elite skaters. The competitive calendar begins in early autumn, and many athletes end their seasons following the intense Olympic schedule.
