Bay Area Skating Star Liu Contracts COVID, Pulls Out Of Nationals

RICHMOND, CA — Bay Area skating star and Olympic hopeful Alysa Liu is withdrawing from the U.S. Figure Skating Championships after a positive COVID-19 test.

Liu, 16, is a two-time national champion. In 2020, she became the youngest skater to win back-to-back U.S. titles. She holds a number of medals from her junior career.

Liu was born in Clovis, raised in Richmond, and has trained in Oakland.

She had been competing in the U.S. Figure Skating national championships, which began earlier this week in Nashville. Top performers will qualify for the Winter Olympics in Beijing.

"I'm fully vaccinated, have been wearing an N95 mask, and got 2 negative test results before leaving to Nashville," Liu wrote on Instagram. "Things happen unfortunately but it is what it is. I'm thankful to U.S. Figure Skating for taking the extra precaution and having the necessary testing facilities to help keep everyone here as safe as possible. I'm feeling good physically and mentally and I'm wishing all the girls good luck for tonight."

NBC Bay Area reported that Liu told U.S. Figure Skating she will petition to be allowed on the team based on her recent performances.