Philip Hersh

Fame (and likely fortune) are following Alysa Liu in post-Olympic whirlwind of attention. My story for @NBCSports nbcsports.com/olympics/news/…

#WorldFigure update Madison Chock/Evan Bates out, Caroline Green/Michael Parsons in - update per USFS, not reflected in the ISU entries list yet Latest entries here: live.rockerskating.com/competition/en…

And the word from Alysa herself:

Her celebrity had already become so overwhelming Liu had asked her fans to give her some breathing room in an IG post this week.

With no official announcement yet, Olympic champion Alysa Liu has withdrawn from the World Championships. You will see in this screenshot of entries on ISU website that Liu now listed as substitute and Sarah Everhardt moved into Liu's spot.

2) "(I did it then) so that USFS could let Sarah (Everhardt) know and she would have more time to prepare in the event she was needed," Tennell wrote. "There were many different reasons, but ultimately I decided this because it was right for me." Everhardt had been 2d alternate

1) Bradie Tennell actually had been named first alternate to world team but, as she said in a text message today, she told U.S. Figure Skating to remove her from consideration for the spot before the women's singles at '26 Oly.

Closing my books on the 2026 Winter Olympics with a thank-you note. globetrottingbyphiliphersh.com/home/2026/2/26…

"She doesn’t want to be famous. She wants to be Alysa.” My story on the Olympic champion's immediate future for @NBCOlympics nbcolympics.com/news/alysa-liu…

ICYMI: My @NBCOlympics story on women's free skate final and Alysa Liu's journey. nbcolympics.com/news/alysa-liu…

As she leaves competitive skating, the Japanese star shines brightly. An appreciation for @NBCOlympics nbcolympics.com/news/four-olym…

@KKenNakamura @NBCSports Nakai had flaws on 3 opf her 7 jumping passes.

@olyphil @NBCSports What do you think about the result of Figure skate？ Alysa winning gold was uncontestable. However, I thought Nakai was better than Sakamoto. What do you think?

The wayback machine: I wrote my first story on Alysa Liu from a telephone interview in December 2018, a month before she won U.S. title at age 13. A year later, I went to California to spend a day with her for this @NBCSports story. nbcsports.com/olympics/news/…

“Alysa is different,” said Phillip DiGuglielmo, who coaches Liu with Massimo Scali.  “We know she wasn’t here to win a medal.  She was here to skate and to enjoy it.” nbcolympics.com/news/alysa-liu…

Phew. Caught up to posting my @NBCOlympics figure skating stories to my bog, Globetrotting by Philip Hersh, just in time for start of women's free skate. For one stop shopping, please click below. globetrottingbyphiliphersh.com

Alysa Liu saw that Amber Glenn was disconsolate. And when she might have been celebrating the strong skate that put her third, Liu was more concerned about helping her teammate. My look back and forward for @NBCOlympics on 2026 women's Olympic singles. nbcolympics.com/news/alysa-liu…

Alysa Liu now looks like the only one of the three U.S. women with a real shot at a medal. Being in that position would presumably increase the pressure on her, but it has become foolhardy to make any presumptions about Liu. My @NBCOlympics story nbcolympics.com/news/alysa-liu…

They held back nothing in the free, flying across the frozen surface of the Milano Ice Skating Arena, executing jumps and lifts and throws with aplomb and command and finesse. nbcolympics.com/news/how-riku-…

The short program results say one thing. They don't say this woman of a certain age has succeeded in a 10-year quest. My story for @NBCOlympics nbcolympics.com/news/halfway-r…