Alysa Liu would be hanging up her skates for the coming season.
The Olympic figure skater has announced she will not be competing on the ice, as most fans expect. In her statement, she put supporters’ minds at ease, clarifying that her hiatus from the sport is not permanent.
Back in 2022, Alysa Liu took a break from the sport for almost two years to focus on school and lead a normal life away from stardom. She made history as the first American to win Olympic women’s singles gold since Sarah Hughes in 2002.
Liu recently announced that she would not be participating in the sport for which she holds a record in the coming season. The figure skater addressed her supporters in a social media statement, sharing that she will be taking a break from competitive skating.
“While people are announcing programs, imma take this time to announce that I will not be competing this season,” the Olympic gold medalist wrote in her Instagram post before explaining what she intends to do with her time off.
Liu shared that she wants her performance in the sport to reflect her personal growth, as she always wants to challenge herself in new ways, so her artistry and skating can evolve.
She assured fans that she would be back on the ice soon and would continue to support her teammates, but she needs this “time to recalibrate, fine-tune things & whatnot.”
Fans Are Supportive Of The Olympian’s Decision
Liu’s Instagram post has received over 500 thousand reactions in less than a day since it was shared. She made the announcement via a lengthy caption attached to a silhouette photo of herself.
Positivity flowed through the nearly three thousand comments, with many fans applauding the figure skater’s decision to step away from competing for a while.
“We love a well-rested Queen. [heart emoji] Enjoy this time to integrate your learnings and victories!” a supporter wrote. “Good luck with everything, Alysa! We’ll wait for your return! Have fun [blush emoji],” another added.
Many other fans echoed similar sentiments, noting that Liu should take as much time as she needs to ensure she comes back refreshed and better. “Take all the time you need,” a comment read.
“Last time you took a break, you came back and won the gold,” another netizen penned, referring to her initial retirement from figure skating when she was 16 years old.
Alysa Liu Is Not Staying Off The Ice Completely
NBC Sports reported that Liu, in an interview, said she does not plan to abandon the sport completely but intends to continue training during her break. She said she would focus on improving her skating and her “overall artistry, spins, jumps, everything.”
The competitive skater added that she would channel her energy and time into evolving as a figure skater and a person as well, and once she feels ready, she would be back. In the meantime, Liu would be a supportive teammate and cheerleader to all competitors.
Her decision to step away came after deep thoughts and discussion with her coaches in the Bay Area, Phillip DiGuglielmo and Massimo Scali. The 21-year-old revealed that she trusted her instinct, and her coaches were understanding when she presented the plan to them.
“I did have to explain a little bit, but they didn’t think I needed to justify my reason for it or anything. So it was really chill,” Liu disclosed.
The Gold Medalist’s Former Coach Came Under Heavy Criticism
Liu began training with her former coach, Laura Lipetsky, when she was just five years old. They worked together till 2020, when they severed professional ties. In an interview, the pro-skater recalled how intense her training had become. She alleged that she was advised not to drink water but instead to “gargle it.”
The Blast reported that after the interview aired, the media brought the heat on Lipetsky, raising questions about why she subjected Li to such training schemes. The coach then released a statement slamming the claims and maintaining that she never mistreated Liu or prevented her from having water during training sessions.
Lipetsky stressed that the figure skater’s physical needs were prioritized while they worked together. She also noted that their relationship went beyond mere coach-trainee status, writing, “We played games on the ice, I made sure she had time to play with her friends on the ice, we laughed a ton.”
Alysa Liu Said Her Career Is Not Top Of Her Priority List
The 21-year-old professional athlete admitted that her social life takes precedence over her figure-skating training. She emphasized that she hung up her skates the first time because she wanted to get a feel for what it was like to live a normal life and not get overwhelmed by the sport.
“I pick hanging out with my friends over a session, and if that makes me a worse skater, so be it. I don’t care. I will jeopardize whatever,” she told news outlets earlier this year.
Despite her record-making achievements, Liu maintains that she would not trade fun for her athletic ambitions. The Blast reported that her name made headlines when she became the youngest U.S. national champion at 13.
At 16, Liu competed in the 2022 Beijing Olympics, where she placed sixth in the women’s singles, and weeks later earned a World Championship bronze medal. Following her win, she said she was “satisfied” with her career as a figure skater and was ready to explore life beyond the ice.
How long will Alysa Liu stay off the ice this time?