Alysa Liu opens up about her traumatic past in interview

Alysa Liu told Rolling Stone she blocked out parts of her early skating years after strict, daily training that included missed holidays and limits on food and water; she has since withdrawn from the upcoming World Championships to set her own schedule.

Alysa Liu is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and has become a prominent figure in pop culture since her recent victories. She has participated in interviews and fashion projects and has been meeting public figures she admires. In a Rolling Stone interview she described difficult experiences from her early skating career and said she had blocked out parts of those years. She has taken more control over her schedule and declined to compete in the upcoming World Championships. What we know: - At age 13 she became the youngest U.S. Figure Skating champion and later said she cannot recall many details from that period. - She described strict, daily training, crying after falls, long hours at the rink and missed birthdays and holidays. - She reported that she was not allowed to eat or drink water before competitions in the past, and she has withdrawn from the upcoming World Championships to spend time resetting and pursue other opportunities. Summary: Her comments underscore pressures she experienced as a child athlete and the lasting effects those years had on her. Further competitive plans are undetermined at this time.