Making a comeback is never easy. From Tom Brady to Michael Phelps, even the most popular stars have had their work cut for them when they sought to dust the boots or gloves, they had hung before. But, some sports demand their athletes to be on top of their physical prowess, making a return all the more difficult. However, figure skating star Alysa Liu seems to have her eyes firmly set on pursuing her dreams.

Liu announced her retirement just days after winning her World Championships bronze in 2022 when she was just 16. Now 19, it’s become difficult for the American to keep ignoring her love for figure skating. And she has some audacious plans to make her return memorable.

Alysa Liu chalks out her next action plan

“Skating is my skating now,” Liu told Olympics.com as she sat down for an interview. In the article published on October 10, the figure skating sensation noted how she has big plans for the future. during the conversation, she noted how she decided to come out of her retirement because now she feels she can have more control over what she wants to do and how she wants to do those. “Two years ago, I would have never imagined this moment, to be honest. It’s weird, but I actually like… I love skating. And now I can really explore it in any way…It’s all me now… my costume designs, how I do my hair, my program. I can really incorporate the arts I’ve always liked,” she stated.

At the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing, Liu finished sixth, which may be one of the reasons why she felt she has more to achieve in her career. Highlighting how the situation would change now that she’s an adult, Liu further said, “I’m taking more like ownership of it, I guess. And like… no one’s driving me to the rink; no one’s overseeing everything I do.”

But this time, she’s setting a higher benchmark for herself, namely, the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Games. “First, the Olympics was so cool. I do want to go again. And that is definitely a goal of mine,” Liu said bluntly about what her future could look like. “I want to keep pushing myself, like not letting myself give in to the fatigue and keep going to like a ton of competitions,” says the Olympian. For now, she’s concentrating on returning to her peak physical condition by doing extensive stamina training. While her return will definitely tickle the fancy of the fans, the examples of athletes returning to their natural pastures would make the expectations only higher.

A long list of enigmatic examples inspires Liu

“I do think if an athlete can do it, they should step away for a bit, take some time off,” Liu says during the interview and her words are proved correct by more than other stars from different sports. The Flying Fish, Michael Phelps, despite being the most decorated Olympian of all time, announced his retirement from the sport after the 2012 Olympics. But his return was just as scintillating. “Being able to close the door on this sport how I want to, that’s why I’m happy now,” Phelps later said. NBA icon Magic Johnson also announced his retirement after testing positive for HIV ahead of the 1991-92 season. He went on to coach the LA Lakers briefly the next season but had to make his comeback once again.

A lack of motivation also prompted Michael Jordan to announce his retirement at the mere age of 30, taking the world by storm. But just two years later he was back for more. His now-iconic words, “I’m back,” will forever be the benchmark to aspire to for any athlete who wishes to take a shot at glory for the second time. But will Liu be able to do so as well? Tell us below!