Why did Alysa Liu retire from figure skating? Inside the real story behind her figure skating comeback

Alysa Liu shocked figure skating fans when she retired at just 16 in 2022, shortly after competing at the Winter Olympics. Many people thought her career was only getting started, but she chose to step away from the sport. Liu said she had already reached the goals she set for herself and wanted to live life outside skating for a while.

Her story, however, did not end with retirement. Having been away from competition for nearly two years, Liu came back with a fresh attitude. Back stronger, she captured the 2025 World Figure Skating Championships before assisting Team USA in earning gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Her return quickly rose to be among the most talked-about news in figure skating.

Alysa Liu’s early retirement, personal reasons, and strong comeback that led to World Championship and Olympic success

Alysa Liu’s rise started very early. Born in Oakland, California, she became the youngest U.S. women’s national champion at just 13 years old.

People noticed her confidence and her difficult jumps, and she soon became one of the most exciting young skaters in the country. She went on to represent the United States at big international events, including the 2022 Winter Olympics.

But soon after that season ended, Liu surprised everyone by announcing her retirement. She explained that figure skating had taken up most of her life from a very young age.

According to her, she had achieved the goals she wanted and felt ready to experience life away from the ice. She said, “I have no regrets. I’m sure it would be the opposite if I stayed in skating.”

Liu also shared that the pressure of the sport sometimes made it less fun for her. Her decision was not because of injury or poor results.

It was simply a personal choice to pause and reset. During her time away, she enjoyed a different pace of life without intense training schedules.



After nearly two years, she began to miss competing and performing. That feeling slowly pushed her toward a return. Many fans were surprised, but she quickly proved she was back at a high level.

Liu won the 2025 World Figure Skating Championships and later said, “I’m not going to lie, this is an insane story. I don’t know how I came back to be World Champion.” Her comeback reached another big moment at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina.

Liu's 74.90 points in the women's short program in the team event contributed significantly to Team USA's overall score. The United States' winning of the team gold medal was much influenced by her performance.

Later, Liu said, “I want people to see everything about me,” showing that her journey is about more than medals, it is about growth, honesty, and finding balance.





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