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By Andrew McCarty
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The figure skating world was in for a bit of a surprise on Saturday morning when reigning world champion and Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu dropped out of the World Championships despite previously being listed in the contest.
Liu hasn't addressed her decision to drop out of the event, but American Sarah Everhardt is the ultimate beneficiary of her decision. Everhardt will make her first appearance at the ISU Figure Skating World Championships in Prague later this month as Liu's replacement.
However, Liu's first would-be replacement, Bradie Tennell, could have blocked Everhardt from making career history, but she chose not to, which raised questions from fans.
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Fans wondered if Tennell, who was the first alternate to replace Liu, was either passed up for the contest, injured or possibly heading for retirement. In a message on social media, Tennell revealed it was ultimately her decision not to participate in the World Championships, even on a clean bill of health.
“I just wanted to jump on here to address a couple things I see circulating since the Worlds announcement,” Tennell, 28, wrote via her Instagram Stories on Saturday, March 7, referring to her choice not to compete at this year’s ISU World Figure Skating Championships. “The decision to give up my sport was my own.”
She continued, “It wasn’t one I made lightly. There was much thought and many reasons — I wasn’t passed over, and I’m (thankfully) not injured.”
Tennell also made it clear she's not giving up her skates just yet.
“Please don’t mistake this for a retirement announcement because that’s not what this means,” the pro athlete stated. “They are two entirely different decisions. Thank you for all of the concern and support. I’m doing well and very excited to cheer on the team from afar."
The World Championships begin on March 24.
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