By: Dylan Nazareth

15-year-old Lulu Lin is back to the ice after missing challenge and nationals with a concussion, and she’s training hard as she readies herself for a second appearance at Jr. Worlds.

Lin suffered the unfortunate head injury while training one of her programs ahead of Skate Canada Challenge last November, sidelining her from competition for months. She’s now resumed regular training after weeks of working on a modified schedule.

“[After the injury] I took a week off, and then my coaches made a really detailed plan that I’ve been following to help me get back into full training,” she said. “I’m fully recovered now, so I’ve been training normally for the past couple weeks.”

At just 14 years old, she made a splash in her debut appearance at Jr. Worlds last year, skating personal best performances in both programs, finishing tenth with a total score of 173.71.

She especially impressed in the free, placing sixth with a score of 116.59—a PB that stands to this day. Lin fondly remembers the feeling after that skate, when she realized she had really earned her place among the best in the world.

“I think my favourite moment was sitting in the stands after [the free], when I’d realized that I’d actually got top 10,” she said. Now turning to this year’s competition after missing some time, she’s zeroing in on two specific elements she really wants to perfect to bring her skating to the next level. “I think my two main focuses are my triple loop and my triple lutz-double axel-double axel,” she said. “I really wanna get them to be a lot more flowy, and like bigger.”

The lutz-axel combo is a difficult element for any skater, but the 15-year-old has already managed to land it at multiple competitions. She’ll look to continue that success this month and show off the work she’s put into improving it. With Jr. Worlds set to be held in Debrecen, Hungary this year, the young skater is also looking forward to taking some time off to see the city in her first visit to the country.

“I have a day in between my short and my long this year,” she said. “So I’m probably going to go out with my coach to explore then.” Above all, after overcoming a major obstacle this season, she’s headed to this competition with a simple goal, while expressing gratitude for her continued opportunities.

“My goal this year is just to do the best that I can do,” she said. “I feel really honoured that Skate Canada chooses me to go out to compete, so I feel really grateful to them as well.