Olympic Champion Alysa Liu Withdraws from World Figure Skating Championships

Liu cites 'exciting things happening' since her Olympic gold medal win in Milan.

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu has withdrawn from the upcoming World Figure Skating Championships, citing 'exciting things happening' since her return from the Milan Olympics where she became the first American woman to win the Olympic title since 2002. Liu will be replaced on the U.S. team by Sarah Everhardt, who will make her worlds debut.

Why it matters

Liu's withdrawal is common for skaters after the Olympics, as they often take time off to capitalize on off-ice opportunities and recover from the demands of the Olympic season. However, her absence leaves the U.S. women's team without its biggest star at the World Championships.

The details

In her social media post, Liu said 'there's been a lot of exciting things happening since my return from Milan, so I'm taking some time for that.' The other U.S. women's singles skaters heading to Worlds are Olympians Amber Glenn and Isabeau Levito.

  • Alysa Liu withdrew from the 2026 World Figure Skating Championships on March 8, 2026.
  • The 2026 World Figure Skating Championships will take place from March 25-28, 2026 in Prague.

The players

Alysa Liu

The 2022 Olympic women's figure skating gold medalist and 2025 World Champion, who is the first American woman to win both titles since the early 2000s.

Sarah Everhardt

The U.S. figure skater who will make her World Championships debut, replacing Liu on the team after placing 5th, 3rd and 4th at the last three U.S. Championships.

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What they’re saying

“Hellooo as some of yall already know, I withdrew from Worlds. There's been a lot of exciting things happening since my return from Milan, so I'm taking some time for that. I will be cheering everyone on from afar. See yall next season!!”

— Alysa Liu (Social Media)

What’s next

The 2026 World Figure Skating Championships will take place from March 25-28, 2026 in Prague, airing on NBC Sports and Peacock.

The takeaway

Liu's withdrawal highlights the challenges Olympic champions face in balancing the demands of elite competition with capitalizing on new opportunities after achieving their lifelong dream. Her absence will be felt by the U.S. team, but also provides a chance for rising stars like Sarah Everhardt to make their mark on the world stage.