Olympic Figure Skater Alysa Liu Returning to 2026 Games

The 2022 bronze medalist is set to compete in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.

Feb. 7, 2026 at 12:31pm

Alysa Liu, the American figure skater who won a bronze medal at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, is making a comeback and will compete in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. Liu, who retired from skating after the 2022 Games, is returning to the sport and will be one of the top contenders for a medal in the upcoming Olympics.

Why it matters

Liu's return to the Olympics is a major story in the figure skating world. At just 16 years old, she became the youngest American woman to win a medal in the Olympics. Her decision to come out of retirement and compete again in 2026 has generated a lot of excitement and anticipation among her fans and the broader figure skating community.

The details

Liu first burst onto the scene in 2019 when, at age 13, she became the youngest woman to win the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. She followed that up with a bronze medal at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, making her the youngest American woman to medal in figure skating at the Games. After the Olympics, Liu announced her retirement from the sport, citing the physical and mental toll of elite-level competition. However, she has now decided to make a comeback and will compete in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.

  • Liu won the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in 2019 at age 13.
  • Liu won a bronze medal at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
  • Liu announced her retirement from figure skating after the 2022 Olympics.
  • Liu is now set to compete in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.

The players

Alysa Liu

An American figure skater who won a bronze medal at the 2022 Beijing Olympics and is now making a comeback to compete in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.

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What they’re saying

“Alysa Liu's return to the Olympics is a huge boost for figure skating in the United States. She's one of the most exciting young talents in the sport, and her medal in Beijing showed that she has what it takes to compete with the best in the world.”

— Kristi Yamaguchi, Former Olympic figure skating champion

What’s next

Liu will begin training in earnest for the 2026 Winter Olympics, which will be held in Milan-Cortina, Italy. She will look to build on her bronze medal performance in Beijing and compete for a gold medal in 2026.

The takeaway

Alysa Liu's decision to come out of retirement and compete in the 2026 Olympics is a testament to her talent and determination. Her return to the sport has generated a lot of excitement, and she will be one of the top contenders for a medal in Italy.