As the spring season starts to bloom, the final major competition for the Figure Skating season, The 2026 World Figure Skating Championships, is underway. The event will take place on March 25-29 in Prague, boasting an impressive roster of world class skaters all performing on one rink. As one of the most prestigious competitions in the sport, this Championship showcases not only the technical skills and artistry of each competitor, but their ability to perform under pressure as well. With the Olympics having just taken place, the pressure is overwhelming, as the skaters have amassed serious expectations for their performances.
The Impact of the Olympics
As mentioned before, with the 2026 Winter Olympics having just taken place, this year’s World Championships carry a completely different level of pressure. Skaters are not only trying to prove themselves to the audience; rather, they are skating with the additional expectations from their Olympic performances. For the Olympic skaters that failed to receive a medal, the World Championships is seen as a redemption for their Olympic performances. For the Olympic medalists, however, the challenge is to maintain their success and showing that they can stay consistent even after mastering the sport.
Because of this, Worlds becomes more than just another competition: it is a test of resilience. Skaters need to recover quickly from the Olympics and perform again at a similar, if not a higher level with even tougher expectations. This competition will ultimately reveal who can handle pressure and deliver when it matters most.
Alysa Liu’s Withdrawal
One of the biggest stories leading into this year’s World Championships was the unprecedented absence of renowned skater Alysa Liu. Liu has become one of the most talked about athletes at the 2026 Winter Olympics, capturing the attention of millions around the
world. Her gold medals and standout Olympic performances impressed millions worldwide, but it was her Exhibition skate that was the true eye catcher for everyone. Skating to “Stateside” by PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson, Liu’s creative choreography quickly became a trend on TikTok, with millions of fans recreating her opening moves. After winning Olympic Gold in the women’s singles and team event, Liu ultimately made history: she became the first woman ever to represent the USA and win a gold medal in both the team event and singles in over 2 decades.
Shortly after her Olympic success, Liu announced that she would withdraw from the 2026 World Figure Skating Championships, citing the demanding schedule and the limited time she had to prepare following the Olympic season. Her withdrawal was confirmed on March 9th via Instagram.
Liu’s absence changes the dynamic of the women’s competition in Prague. Without the reigning Olympic champion / fan favorite, opportunities start to open up for skaters like Amber Glenn and the strong Japanese contenders who delivered impressive performances in the Olympics. While it’s not unusual for Olympic champions to skip Worlds after a long season, Liu’s decision still stands out, showing fans and other skaters just how much energy and recovery the Olympics require.
Women’s Field: Japan’s Depth and Amber Glenn
The women’s competition features many strong contenders, especially from Japan, including 3x Olympic Silver and 1x Bronze Medalist Kaori Sakamoto, 1x Olympic Bronze Medalist Ami Nakai, and the 4th Place Olympic Finisher Mone Chiba. Together, these three represent grit and determination for Japan.
Sakamoto has been at the forefront of Figure Skating, consistently offering outstanding performances. She is known for the high speeds she reaches during her skate, and also her Double Axel, which many reporters say she has “perfected.” With the withdrawal of Liu, Sakamoto has one of the best shots to take away gold in her final competition.
Alongside Sakamoto, young 17-year-old skater Ami Nakai has also been on the rise. Nakai delivered the highest scoring short program in the women’s singles with her breathtaking Triple Axel, being one of the 6 females to ever land a Triple Axel in an Olympic competition, a testament to her technical skill and cementing her status as a rising star to watch out for at Worlds. With her combination of difficult jumps and strong performance quality, she undoubtedly has the potential to challenge more experienced skaters and make a major impact on the podium.
Mone Chiba, another rising star on the Japanese team, has also impressed many judges and fans with her consistent technical skills and clean jumps. At the Olympics, she delivered strong performances that highlighted her elegance, particularly in the free skate. With her elegant style and solid triple jumps, Chiba continues to gain experience on the world stage and is expected to be a serious contender at Worlds, capable of taking a podium spot alongside Sakamoto and Nakai.
Amber Glenn, one of Team USA’s top competitors, will also be a big contender for the podium in this Championship. During the Olympic Finals, Glenn was only one landed jump away from seeing the podium. With Alysa Liu out of Worlds, Glenn has an even bigger opportunity to lead the U.S. women’s team. Her passionate and expressive skate makes her a strong contender to be on the podium in Prague.
Men’s Field: Japan’s 2 Stars, alongside USA’s Malinin: Kazakhstan’s Shaidorov Opts Out
In the men’s event, Japan has once again proved to be a dominant force, with this year’s team led by Yuma Kagiyama and Shun Sato. Kagiyama is known for his smooth and creative skating skills, delivering clean programs under heavy pressure. He has already proven himself on the Olympic stage and continues to be an outstanding contender.
Sato, on the other hand, is recognized for his high performance under pressure. In the Olympic Team Event, Sato needed to deliver an outstanding performance to give Japan a shot to win the Gold Medal. Sato, then, delivered a near-perfect, standout performance that was spotless, featuring many quad jumps and achieving a PB score of 194.86. Although Sato wasn’t ultimately able to achieve his goal, he proved to the Figure Skating world that he is ready to take the next step. Sato later won the Bronze Medal in the Men’s Singles, making him another strong contender. 
Ilia Malinin remains one of the most talked about skaters in the world. Known for his historic jumps such as the quad axel, he continues to push the limits of what’s possible in figure skating. At the Olympics, the pressure unfortunately got to him, and he made countless mistakes that ultimately ended up costing him a Medal. Going into the Olympics, millions of people believed that he was a “secured” favorite for the Gold Medal, but this year’s Olympics has served as a painful reminder that nothing is guaranteed. Coming into the 2026 World Championships, Malinin faces many challenges, and needs to stay focused on delivering clean performances under high expectations. His big moves give him a big advantage, but how he handles the pressure this time will likely decide whether he can claim the top spot.
Mikhail Shaidorov, the Olympic Gold Medalist that no one expected, has also opted out of the World Championships. Similarly to Alysa Liu, he has talked at length about the little time to prepare after the Olympics as well as how physically demanding the sport is. Shaidorov has decided that he wanted to recover from burnout, disappointing many fans worldwide.
This year’s Figure Skating World Championships is more than just another competition: it is a key moment in the 2026 figure skating season. With high pressure, high expectations, and major changes like the withdrawal of Mikhail Shaidorov and Alysa Liu, the event will likely show a different image than the Olympics. As a result, Worlds will not only determine the current champions but also reveal which skaters are truly ready for the big stage in this sport.
