Alysa Liu to take year off from skating

Olympic Gold medal winner Alysa Liu is again doing things her own way. The New York Times reports that Liu, who captured the country with her charisma and playful personality during the Winter Olympics, has announced that she will take the year off from competitive skating to “recalibrate.” It’s the second time in her career that Liu, 21, has taken time off — she quit skating five years ago. Liu made the announcement on Instagram, writing  that “I always want to challenge myself in new ways, so my artistry & skating can evolve. Fear not, I’ll be back.”