Alysa Liu: Figure Skating Trauma Drove My Retirement

Alysa Liu's decision to retire from figure skating was deeply influenced by negative experiences throughout her career. She recounted a lack of personal autonomy in her early years, with decisions about her programs and attire being made for her, and recalled restrictive comments about her diet and hydration. These feelings intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic. Liu described feeling burnt out and isolated while training, leading her to 'hate figure skating' and wish for a normal teenage existence with her loved ones. She felt she was sacrificing her personal life for a career that did not fulfill her, with her primary aspiration being simply to be at home.