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Olympic skating champion Liu to skip new season / Photo: WANG Zhao - AFP/File
Olympic skating champion Liu to skip new season
The women's Olympic figure skating champion Alysa Liu, 21, announced Wednesday that she will not take part in any competitions in the upcoming season.
The American won gold in both the women's individual and team event at the Milan-Cortina Games earlier this year.
"While people are announcing programs, imma take this time to announce that I will not be competing this season," she said on her social media.
"I always want to challenge myself in new ways, so my artistry & skating can evolve. It's important to me that my sport reflects my personal growth."
It's not the first break that she has taken from the sport.
A former child prodigy and the youngest US champion at 13, Liu retired in 2022 when she was just 16, worn out by elite competition.
She then laced up her skates again two years later.
In her comeback year she stunned everyone by winning the world championships in Boston before going on to double Olympic glory.
"I'm gonna take the time to recalibrate, fine-tune things & whatnot," she added.
"So fear not, I'll be back, & in the meantime I'll be rooting for my teammates near & far."
L.Mitchell--SMC
