Aidan Liu is no stranger to the fast-paced world of speed skating—both on and off the ice. As the President of Elmbrook Speedskating Club and a member of the USA Junior World Championships Team, he has spent nearly a decade pushing the limits of speed, precision, and endurance. His talents are sometimes underrepresented by Brookfield Central. The following Interview was conducted to help students and faculty at Brookfield Central learn and appreciate Aidan’s accomplishments.
Each week, Aidan trains six days, with Monday as his rest day. From Tuesday through Saturday, he wakes up around 5:45 AM to get to the rink by 6:30. Training runs from 7:00 to 9:00 AM. On weekdays, after training, Aidan goes straight to Lancer Block, and after school, he usually has another training session from 4:00 to 6:00 PM. On Saturdays, he has a double training session in the morning (ice followed by dryland), and on Sundays, it’s just ice. In total, he trains about 25-30 hours per week.
Aidan trains hard but he pays lots of that credit to a strong mentality. We asked him five questions about his speed skating career:
How do you mentally prepare before a big race, especially at the World Cup Junior level?
He believes that taking deep breaths is the best way to calm himself and prepare his nervous system for a race. At the World Cup and World Junior Championships level, he knows it’s all about getting out there. Win or lose, he will always learn something from each race, and that mindset is what helps him continue improving.
What has been the most challenging moment in your speed skating career so far, and how did you overcome it?
Aidan’s toughest challenge came during the U.S. Championships this January when he qualified for the team. Not only was he competing against stronger athletes for a spot on the 2025 USA World Junior Short Track Championships Team, but he was also battling a major foot injury that required extensive care and caution.
Looking back, he still isn’t sure how he made it through, but it reinforced his belief that the mind is the strongest part of the body. Even through physical pain, athletes can push themselves further than they ever imagined to achieve their goals.
What’s a misconception people have about speed skating that you wish more people understood?
Many people see speed skating as an intimidating sport to pick up, but Aidan insists that it’s not! Like with most new activities, it can feel daunting at first, but once someone tries it, they often can’t stop coming back for more. He believes that taking the first step is the hardest part, but once people do, they’ll realize just how rewarding the sport can be.
How does Aidan balance the demands of school with the intense training schedule of a high-level athlete?
For Aidan, proactivity and time management are key. He knows the feeling all too well—coming to school after morning practice and struggling to focus, or coming home after afternoon training and wanting nothing more than to collapse on the couch. Everyone feels capable when they’re full of energy, but Aidan believes it’s when exhaustion sets in that the winners are separated from losers. That’s why, even when fatigue hits, he pushes himself harder.
What are Aidan’s future goals in speed skating, and where does he see himself in the future?
His ultimate goal is to compete in the Winter Olympic Games for short track speed skating by 2030 or 2034. Along the way, he aims to race in senior international competitions like World Cups and World Championships to gain more experience. As for the next few years, he plans to attend college while continuing to pursue his skating career—a challenge he knows will be difficult but one he’s determined to make work through careful planning.
