Alysa Liu announces skating break as German volleyball sets world record

Olympic figure skating champion Alysa Liu has announced she will take the 2026-27 season off from competitive skating. The 21-year-old American, who won both individual and team gold at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, stated on Instagram that the break is intended to allow her artistry and skating to evolve. Liu, who previously retired at age 16 before making a successful comeback, assured fans that she intends to return to the ice after this period of recalibration.

In separate sports news, the German men’s national volleyball team set a world record during the FIPAV Cup in Reggio Calabria. In a match against Italy, the first set lasted 89 minutes, ending in a 66:64 victory for Germany. The marathon set featured a total of 130 points and saw both teams defend 43 set points. Despite the historic first set, Germany ultimately lost the match to Italy with a final score of 2:3.