Alysa Liu, the 21-year-old American Olympic figure skating champion, said she will not compete in the 2026-27 season but will continue to train and prepare for a planned comeback in 2027-28.
Liu made the announcement on social media, saying she wanted time to "recalibrate" and to develop her skating away from the immediate demands of competition. She described the break as something that "makes the most sense" for her at this stage of her career.
The decision represents another hiatus from competition for Liu, who said she will use the year away from events to focus on training and artistic development. She did not specify a detailed schedule for the period or name particular competitions she will miss.
Her absence from the 2026-27 season will remove a leading contender from the upcoming competitive calendar, while her stated intention to return in 2027-28 leaves open the prospect of her rejoining national and international events the following year. Liu's announcement follows a trend among elite skaters who briefly step back from competition to address training, recovery and long-term goals.