U.S. figure skating star Alysa Liu appears to have withdrawn from the World Skating Championships in Prague. Liu is no longer listed on the International Skating Union's (ISU) website for the event. Her spot has been filled by a second alternative.
No official reason has been provided for Liu's withdrawal. This comes shortly after Liu shared on social media that a spectator had chased her to her car at the airport, expressing discomfort with fans invading her personal space.
Liu previously took a temporary retirement after the 2022 Olympics, with her father citing "trauma" and PTSD. Before the 2022 Beijing Games, she and her father were reportedly targeted by a Chinese government spying operation.
Liu returned to the sport in 2024 and made history in 2025 as the first American to reach the World Figure Skating Championships in 19 years. In February, she became the first American to win Olympic gold in women's individual figure skating since 2002, significantly boosting her public profile and social media following.