Alysa Liu has enjoyed a glittering sporting career and will undoubtedly go down as one of the greatest American figure skaters of all time. Already a World Championships gold and bronze medalist by the time she turned 20, the California native retired from the sport after competing in the 2022 Winter Olympics at 16.
But after a two-year break, Liu returned to the ice and has since enjoyed much success on the figure skating circuit. Now at the 2026 Winter Olympics and already a gold medalist in the team event, Liu will have her sights set on the women’s singles.
The Reasons Behind Alysa Liu’s Retirement and Eventual Comeback
Liu retired from figure skating in 2022 at the age of 16 due to severe burnout, having started competing at 5. She cited a desire to move on from skating and lead a normal teenage life as her reasons for calling time on her figure skating career.
However, Liu rediscovered her passion for skating two years later and announced her return to the rink for the 2024-25 season.
Explaining her decision to retire and later return to figure skating via US Figure Skating in 2024, Liu said, “I got what I wanted. I started skating when I was 5 and I never got a break, really. And I also wanted to go to school and experience that… I was lacking experience in other things in the world. All I knew was skating, and I just wanted to live my life, I guess.”
“At the very start of this year, I went skiing for the first time. And I hadn’t felt that adrenaline rush, I guess, since I’d quit skating. It feels so similar to skiing. And so after I skied, I was like, ‘Wait, let me get on the ice and see what it feels like’,” she added.
Liu officially returned to figure skating in October 2024, with the CS Budapest Trophy serving as her comeback tournament. A few months later, she won gold at the 2025 World Figure Skating Championships and the World Team Trophy. She has also won back-to-back silver medals in the U.S. national championships, finishing behind friend Amber Glenn on both occasions.
Liu’s 2026 Winter Olympic Schedule in Women’s Singles Event
After helping Team USA win gold in the figure skating team event at the 2026 Winter Olympics, Liu will be determined to win the women’s singles gold medal. She will represent the American team alongside Glenn and Isabeau Levito.
The women’s singles figure skating will start with the short program at 12:45 p.m. EST (6:45 p.m. local time) on Tuesday.
The free skate will follow on Thursday and begin at 1 p.m. EST (7 p.m. local time). That will also serve as the medal event. Fans in the United States can watch Liu live on NBC and Peacock.
