Sometimes, life’s greatest stories come full circle, drawing us back to where it all began. The U.S. figure skating champion, Alysa Liu, thought stepping away from the ice would be the beginning of her bold journey. And to explore something new, she retired from skating. In an interview after her retirement in 2022, she said, “I have no regrets. I’m sure it would be the opposite if I stayed in skating. I’d have regrets.”

But she made her return to skating on January 23, 2025, in the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas. In an event that had been long anticipated, Alysa Liu, radiant, self-driven, and unmistakably enthusiastic, performed her highly anticipated return to the U.S. Figure Skating Championship and, in doing so, proved to everyone why she was the one to greatness. How did she perform?

Alysa Liu’s return to the U.S. Figure Skating Championships 2025 is a feature of the magnetic attractiveness of the ice. Liu’s final return to the national stage was an electrifying performance that was also very emotional, and it was proof that some roots were simply too strong to be cut. What does she have to say?

Talking to Olympics.com, Liu said, “I was really excited to present my short program on this big stage; it’s nationals. It’s such a big competition.” Liu earned a 76.36, besting Bradie Tennell (71.23) and pre-event favorite Amber Glenn (70.91).

She further added, “I was emotional from the very beginning to the end, and I really love that for me. I felt very connected to the ice.” Indeed, it feels very emotional when you return to your profession after exploring new things. What did she explore?

Liu explored other interests like college and living a ‘normal’ life outside the intense training as she was very young. She retired at the age of 16; it is the time when most of the athletes start their careers. She also once stated that she wanted to “live her life” and experience things beyond skating, including going to school in person and taking a break from the sport’s demanding schedule. Alysa Liu’s career is now started again, and she is not alone in making a comeback to skating.

Alysa Liu’s counterpart, Bradie Tennell, is also making a comeback

In the United States, the figure skating scene is once again enlightened with Alysa Liu and now Bradie Tennell after her impressive comeback. Not only have these two athletes made a remarkable return to competing, but they have also taken on some unordinary routes. Why did Tennell stop skating?

Tennell suffered injuries in her left and right ankles. She didn’t stop skating completely but took significant breaks from competition due to recurring foot and ankle injuries, and due to that, she missed the entire 2023-24 season.

Even though Bradie has been dealing with injuries since 2022, including a severe spiral oblique fracture in her ankle last year, she was determined to give it her best at the 2024 Skate America in Allen, Texas. She also participated in the U.S. Figure Skating Championships 2025 and ended with a score of 71.23. And her return is emotional.

Tennell expressed her feelings as she said, “I was very excited to skate here again after missing last year.” She also stated, “I was just kind of feeling a lot of emotions today because last January, January 26th of last year, was my second surgery for my ankle. So, it’s not even been a full year yet. It’s just a little surreal to be back at nationals and skating.”

After winning the bronze medal at the 2022 World Championships, the California native decided to give up skating at the age of sixteen and enrolled at UCLA for college. But this chapter is over now. And the future will bring many more chances for Alysa Liu and Bradie Tennell to shine. And the fans are waiting for those moments.