Olympic Champion Alysa Liu Withdraws from World Figure Skating Championships

The 20-year-old American skater will not defend her world title after winning Olympic gold.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Olympic figure skating champion Alysa Liu has withdrawn from the upcoming world championships, an unsurprising move after she won the first Winter Games gold medal by an American woman in more than two decades. Liu would have performed alongside Olympic teammates Amber Glenn and Isabeau Levito, but she has decided to forgo the world championships and begin her offseason early following the stress of the Olympics.

Why it matters

Liu's withdrawal is common for Olympic athletes, who often choose to skip the world championships after the pressure of competing at the Winter Games. Her decision highlights the long and demanding figure skating season, which begins in early fall and culminates with the Olympics and worlds.

The details

The 20-year-old Liu became the first American woman since Kimmie Meissner in 2006 to win the world title last year in Boston. She followed up with the first Olympic gold medal for a U.S. woman since Sarah Hughes in 2002 when she stood atop the podium last month at the Milan Cortina Games. Liu also helped the U.S. defend its Olympic team title.

  • Liu won the world title in 2022 in Boston.
  • Liu won Olympic gold in February 2026 at the Milan Cortina Games.
  • The 2023 world figure skating championships will take place March 24 in Prague.

The players

Alysa Liu

The 20-year-old American figure skater who is the reigning Olympic and world champion.

Amber Glenn

One of Liu's Olympic teammates who will compete at the world championships.

Isabeau Levito

One of Liu's Olympic teammates who will compete at the world championships.

Bradie Tennell

The first alternate for the U.S. world championships team who declined her spot, allowing Sarah Everhardt to take Liu's place.

Sarah Everhardt

The skater who will take Liu's place on the U.S. world championships team.

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The takeaway

Liu's withdrawal from the world championships highlights the demanding nature of the figure skating calendar, with the Olympics and worlds occurring in close succession. Her decision to forgo the world championships and begin her offseason early is a common choice for Olympic champions looking to recover from the pressure of the Winter Games.