Julian Macaraeg was born on May 15, 2003, in New York City[1] to Filipino parents who immigrated to the United States in the 1990s.[2] Macaraeg began skating at the age of three and also played ice hockey at the age of 4[2] and then switched to speed skating in 2010.[1] On April 18, 2021, Macaraeg announced that he would be attending the University of California, Los Angeles.[3]
Macaraeg was one of two Filipino athletes to be selected to attend the 2020 Winter Youth Olympics, and in doing so became the first Filipino short track speed skater to compete at the Youth Olympics.[5][6] He qualified through his second-place finish in the 500m event of the 2019 ISU Junior World Short Track Championships in Canada.[7] In the 500m, Macaraeg won his qualifying heat, moving him on to the quarterfinals,[7] however he did not advance in the 1000m, and his Mixed-NOC relay made it to the B Final.