Olympic champ Alysa Liu stuns in British Vogue photos amid skating hiatus

United States star figure skater two-time Olympic champion Alysa Liu is in the midst of a figure skating hiatus, but that doesn't mean she's not busy.

Liu, who won two gold medals at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games , announced earlier this summer that she'd be taking a break from competition.

"While people are announcing programs, imma take this time to announce that I will not be competing this season. I always want to challenge myself in new ways, so my artistry & skating can evolve," she said in a statement at the time. "It's important to me that my sport reflects my personal growth. I'm gonna take the time to recalibrate, fine-tune things & whatnot. So fear not, I'll be back, & in the meantime I'll be rooting for my teammates near & far."

In the midst of her break, Liu is staying busy.

As she takes a break from her profession, Liu posed for British Vogue and revealed the intentions behind her hiatus from the skating world.

"It's important to do things on my own terms, because for so long I didn't," she explains. "I need to be able to control it creatively, otherwise I'd rather not do it at all."

Liu mused that photoshoots are similar to skating program in her head "because all of it needs to tell a story."

It's art," said Liu . "I feel like when I'm being heard, I can put my all into it because I'm more comfortable."

The star skater did not put a timeline on her return to the ice.