Olympic Champion Alysa Liu Withdraws from World Figure Skating Championships

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

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Olympic figure skating champion Alysa Liu has withdrawn from the upcoming world championships, an unsurprising move for the defending world champion after she won the first Winter Games gold medal by an American woman in more than two decades. Liu, who retired after the 2022 Beijing Games only to launch a triumphant comeback two years later, became the first American woman since 2006 to win the world title last year in Boston.

Why it matters

Liu's withdrawal from the world championships is common for Olympic athletes who choose to begin their offseason early after the stress of performing at the Winter Games. Her decision allows her to rest and recover following her historic Olympic gold medal win, which made her the first American woman to claim the top prize since 2002.

The details

Liu would have performed alongside Olympic teammates Amber Glenn and Isabeau Levito when worlds begin March 24 at O2 Arena in Prague. Bradie Tennell was the first alternate but declined, so Sarah Everhardt will take Liu's place on the U.S. team. Liu joined Amber Glenn in helping the U.S. defend its Olympic team title in Milan.

  • Liu won the world title in Boston in 2025.
  • Liu won Olympic gold in Milan in February 2026.
  • The 2026 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 defending world champion and recently won Olympic gold in Milan, the first American woman to do so since 2002.

Amber Glenn

An American figure skater who competed alongside Alysa Liu on the U.S. Olympic team that defended its team title in Milan.

Isabeau Levito

An American figure skater who was selected to compete at the 2026 World Figure Skating Championships alongside Alysa Liu's Olympic teammates.

Sarah Everhardt

The first alternate for the U.S. figure skating team at the 2026 World Championships, who will take Alysa Liu's place on the team.

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What’s next

The 2026 World Figure Skating Championships will take place March 24-30 in Prague, Czech Republic.

The takeaway

Alysa Liu's withdrawal from the world figure skating championships is a strategic decision to rest and recover after her historic Olympic gold medal win, which made her the first American woman to claim the top prize since 2002. Her decision is common for Olympic athletes who choose to begin their offseason early following the stress of the Winter Games.