Ilia Malinin has reacted to Alysa Liu’s decision to sit out the 2026-27 season. The Olympic champion’s absence will be felt by her fellow American skaters, including Malinin, who admitted he was sad to see her step away.

During his latest Twitch livestream, Malinin was asked whether he already knew about Liu’s decision. He confirmed that he did and admitted that he was disappointed she would not be competing this season.

“I knew. That's sad," said Malinin. "I get a bit upset that she's not competing this season. She's really fun to have around.”

Ilia Malinin Brasil shared his clip on X, in which Malinin's response suggested that he will miss Liu both on and off the ice. He was not simply talking about losing a competitor from the lineup; he emphasized how much he enjoys having her around.

His reaction came at an interesting point in Liu's career, just months after she reached the biggest stage in the sport.

Liu is coming off the biggest achievement of her career, but she will now step away for the 2026-27 season.

Her absence means fans will not see one of America's top women's skaters compete this year, while Malinin continues his own competitive journey.

Alysa Liu chooses a break after Olympic glory 

According to BBC Sport by Steve Sutcliffe, the 21-year-old won the women’s singles gold medal at the Milano Cortina Games in February.

She became the first American woman since 2002 to win Olympic gold in women’s singles. She also helped the United States win gold in the team event.

Liu explained on social media that she wants to use the break to improve her technique and give her skating and artistry more room to develop. She said she plans to “recalibrate” and make small changes before returning to competition.

This is not the first time Liu has taken a break from figure skating. BBC Sport reported that she retired in 2022 at just 16 years old.

However, she later made a big comeback, after which Liu won the world title that season. She then went on to win Olympic gold.

For now, Malinin will have to compete without Liu during the 2026-27 season. But with Liu planning to return after her break, her absence may only make her eventual comeback more anticipated, especially by the fellow skaters who already miss having her around.

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Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Kapil Manghnani brings over 4.5 years of experience in sports journalism, covering a wide range of sports, including Soccer, NHL, Tennis, Gymnastics, NASCAR, Swimming, and more. He has written for leading sports platforms, producing everything from breaking news and features to in-depth analysis, opinion pieces, long-form stories, and short-form content. Beyond articles, he has also scripted long-form storytelling videos for YouTube channels. His work focuses on delivering well-researched, engaging, and reader-first sports content across multiple formats.

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Edited by

Rudra Dubey