Figure skating fans all over the world were after US figure skater and Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu announced that she will be sitting out of competitions for the 2026-27 season. 

While she had initially mentioned that she wants to focus on personal growth, she explained the reasoning behind her decision in more detail during a panel interview at the 2026 Summer Sizzler in Boston that took place on August 27.

“I want to really work on my dancing and choreography and stuff like that. I want to work on my strength and I need time for that. So, I thought it'd be best to skip the competitions this season so I can really hone in on like kind of the blueprints of what I want to do,” Liu told reporters, according to a clip of the interview posted on YouTube.

In the Summer Sizzler interview clip posted on YouTube on August 29, Liu said she was looking forward to seeing other skaters compete while she polished her techniques. In particular, she was looking forward to learning new choreographies on the ice.

“I'm excited to watch everybody compete. I'm really excited for that. And then, I'm excited I'm going to play around a lot with choreography on ice now that I have the time to. So, I get to do, I don't know, whatever style I want really,” Liu said.

She also wanted to land Triple Axels again in competition, something she hasn’t done since the Olympics.

“I really want to do Triple Axels. Um I haven't done I really haven't done triple axels since like last time I did one was like right after Olympics. Um so, I'm excited to work on that again once I am like really on ice and skating and training again,” she concluded.

Liu’s comments suggest that she wants to add new choreography and Triple Axels to her repertoire of iconic moves that won her praise during competitions like the Olympics. 

What were some of Alysa Liu’s signature moves at the Olympics?

According to a YouTube video by Coach Leif Hafstrom, an experienced private skating coach, content creator, and USFS Double Gold Medalist, Liu has a few signature moves that appear in all her routines. And the Olympics were no different.

The first jump he analyzed was a Triple Flip, which she opened her routine with. It was followed by a Triple Salchow and a Camel Spin, which showcases her incredible speed and precise control over her movements.

“Every single jumping pass in this competition that she did was fabulous. Completely looked at ease during the program. Jumping wasn't the best part. It was really in the details throughout the program. Gorgeous camel spin right here. Stretched leg, pulled back shoulders. Love the point of the toe. straight knees, great arch right there,” Hafstrom said, analyzing Liu’s free skate program from the 2025-26 Winter Olympics.

She also performed a Triple Lutz-Triple Loop Combination during the routine, which is often considered her most difficult and impressive jumping pass. 

“This was my favorite landing of the entire Olympics. This was her three jump combination. I believe it was the Lutz double axle double toe,” the coach added, analyzing another combination jump.

Liu’s dramatic slides, including her The Diana-Style Arch Slide, also made an appearance, along with a Layback Spin.

The coach mentioned that not only did the moves show off her technical skill, but it paired perfectly with the music she had chosen and the persona she portrayed on the ice.

Written by

Arundhoti Palit

Edited by

Arundhoti Palit