Trending Now - Alysa Liu Steps Back From Worlds, Addresses Eileen Gu's Choice
WHO:
Alysa Liu, U.S. figure skating star and Olympic champion
Eileen Gu, American-born skier representing China
Arthur Liu, Alysa Liu's father
Amber Glenn, Olympic teammate of Alysa Liu
Isabeau Levito, Olympic teammate of Alysa Liu
Sarah Everhardt, second alternate for the U.S. team
JD Vance, Vice President
Alysa Liu, Olympic gold medalist and figure skater from the United States
Sarah Everhardt, second alternate who will replace Liu on the U.S. team
Amber Glenn and Isabeau Levito, Liu's Olympic teammates
Arthur Liu, Alysa Liu's father
Alysa Liu, U.S. figure skating star
Sarah Everhardt, second alternate filling Liu's spot
Amber Glenn and Isabeau Levito, Liu's Olympic teammates
Arthur Liu, Alysa Liu's father
WHAT:
Alysa Liu has withdrawn from the World Figure Skating Championships.
Liu is no longer listed as a participant on the International Skating Union (ISU) website.
Sarah Everhardt will replace Liu on the U.S. team.
Liu won two gold medals at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, including the women's individual figure skating competition.
Liu became the first American woman to win Olympic gold in women's individual figure skating since 2002.
Liu became the first American woman to medal in the event since 2006.
Liu had less than 300,000 Instagram followers before the Olympics and surpassed 7.4 million followers afterward.
Alysa Liu has withdrawn from the World Figure Skating Championships
Liu won the Olympic gold medal in women's individual figure skating at the Milan Cortina Games on February 19, 2026
Liu became the first American woman to win Olympic gold in this event since 2002
Liu also won two gold medals at the Milan Cortina Games, including one for the U.S. team title
Liu was previously the first American woman since Kimmie Meissner in 2006 to win the world title in 2025
Alysa Liu has withdrawn from the World Figure Skating Championships.
Liu is no longer listed as a participant on the International Skating Union (ISU) website.
Liu won Olympic gold in women's individual figure skating on February 19, 2026.
Liu became the first American woman to win Olympic gold in this event since 2002.
Liu previously entered a temporary retirement after the 2022 Beijing Games.
Liu won two gold medals at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games.
WHERE:
World Figure Skating Championships will take place at O2 Arena in Prague, Czech Republic.
Milan, Italy, where the 2026 Winter Olympics were held.
World Figure Skating Championships will take place at O2 Arena in Prague, Czech Republic
Liu competed at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy
World Figure Skating Championships, O2 Arena, Prague, Czech Republic
Milan, Italy, site of the 2026 Winter Olympics
WHEN:
Liu's withdrawal from the World Championships was reported on March 8, 2026.
The World Figure Skating Championships are scheduled to begin on March 24, 2026.
Liu competed in the women's figure skating free program at the 2026 Winter Olympics on February 19, 2026.
Liu won her Olympic gold medal on February 19, 2026.
Liu's withdrawal was reported on March 8, 2026
The World Figure Skating Championships are scheduled to begin on March 24, 2026
Liu won her Olympic gold medal on February 19, 2026
Liu won the world title in 2025
Liu's withdrawal was reported on March 7, 2026.
The World Figure Skating Championships will begin on March 24, 2026.
Liu won Olympic gold on February 19, 2026.
Liu won the world title in 2025 in Boston.
WHY:
Liu's withdrawal is common for Olympic athletes after a long season, as many choose to begin their offseason early.
Liu expressed discomfort with being chased by a spectator to her car, indicating a need for personal space.
Liu's withdrawal is common for Olympic athletes after a long season, as many choose to begin their offseason early
Liu had previously entered a temporary retirement after the 2022 Beijing Games due to trauma and PTSD
The reason for Liu's withdrawal is currently unknown.
Liu's father stated she experienced trauma and PTSD after her first Olympic appearance in 2022.
HOW:
Liu announced her feelings about Eileen Gu's decision to represent China in an interview, stating, "I think people are hypocritical for shaming her for representing China."
Liu's father, Arthur Liu, fled China after participating in the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989.
Liu's absence from the World Championships was confirmed by her removal from the International Skating Union's participant list
Liu expressed her discomfort with being chased by a spectator to her car in a social media post
Liu revealed on social media that she was "chased" to her car by a spectator, expressing discomfort with the situation.
(UPDATED March 8, 2026 14:57 UTC)
Alysa Liu, the U.S. figure skating star and Olympic champion, has officially withdrawn from the upcoming World Figure Skating Championships, which are set to take place in Prague starting March 24. This decision comes after her remarkable performance at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, where she won two gold medals, making her the first American woman to achieve this in women's individual figure skating since 2002. In her absence, Sarah Everhardt will step in to represent the U.S. team, as Liu has expressed a desire for personal space following a long season and some uncomfortable experiences with fans.
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(UPDATED March 8, 2026 05:19 UTC)
Alysa Liu, the Olympic gold medalist in women's individual figure skating, has officially withdrawn from the upcoming World Figure Skating Championships set to take place in Prague, with her absence confirmed by her removal from the International Skating Union's participant list. Liu, who made history by becoming the first American woman to win Olympic gold in this event since 2002, recently captured two gold medals at the Milan Cortina Games, including one for the U.S. team title. Her decision to step back is not uncommon for athletes after a long season, as many choose to begin their offseason early, especially after her previous struggles with trauma and PTSD following the 2022 Beijing Games.
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(UPDATED March 7, 2026 23:02 UTC)
Alysa Liu, the U.S. figure skating star who recently won Olympic gold, has withdrawn from the upcoming World Figure Skating Championships in Prague, with her spot now filled by second alternate Sarah Everhardt. The reason for Liu's withdrawal remains unclear, but her father mentioned that she has been dealing with trauma and PTSD following her first Olympic appearance in 2022. Liu, who made history as the first American woman to win Olympic gold in women's individual figure skating since 2002, shared on social media that she felt uncomfortable after being chased to her car by a spectator.