For reigning U.S. figure skating champion Alysa Liu, growing pains shrink expectations

Alysa Liu in the short program at 2020 U.S. Championships . (Jay Adeff / U.S. Figure Skating)

It’s easy to understand why Alysa Liu has altered her perspective for the U.S. Figure Skating Championships next week in Las Vegas.

“I don’t necessarily care about my placement anymore,” Liu said via telephone Wednesday.

The two-time defending champion realizes she will be hard-pressed to make it three straight. Getting onto the awards podium might even be out of reach, given what the 15-year-old Liu has been dealing with this season:

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