Alysa Liu Opts Out of World Championships After Olympic Gold

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Alysa Liu, the 20-year-old American figure skater who won gold at the recent Winter Olympics, has decided not to defend her 2025 World Championships title. In a hometown celebration in Oakland, Liu revealed that she has numerous commitments and not enough time for training, and that she cares more about the artistry of the sport than simply collecting trophies or breaking records.

Why it matters

Liu's decision to skip the World Championships comes as a surprise, as she was expected to be a top contender after her Olympic triumph. Her popularity has skyrocketed since the Olympics, with her social media following growing exponentially, and she is now in high demand for various media and commercial appearances. This raises questions about the challenges elite athletes face in balancing their training, competition schedule, and newfound fame.

The details

Liu, who became the first American woman in 24 years to win the Olympic figure skating gold medal, said she doesn't have enough time to train and put out her best performance at the World Championships. She also emphasized that she cares more about the artistry of the sport than just collecting titles and records.

• Liu won the Olympic gold medal in figure skating a few weeks ago in Milan, Italy.
• The Figure Skating World Championships are scheduled to take place in two weeks.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Liu is already confirmed to compete next season and is excited about the opportunity to possibly defend her gold medals at the 2030 Olympic Games in the French Alps.