Thomas is in Innsbruck, Austria and is one of 2 skaters representing the USA at the inaugural Youth Olympic Games. He will be skating the 1000M on Jan 18, the 500M on Jan 19, and the relay (mixed genders/countries) on Jan 21.
Please share any links where we can 'go to Innsbruck'!
Speed Skaters Ready for Winter Youth Olympic GamesBrian Howell / Red Line Editorial / January 12, 2012
Thomas Insuk Hong races across the ice, keeping his eye on his competitors, but with his mind really only focused on one main thing.
Speed.
“It’s exhilarating to go fast,” the 14-year-old short track speed skater said. “It’s a completely self-powered sport, so all the efforts you make translate directly into speed. It’s just fun being out there to show my capabilities.”
Hong, from Laurel, Md., and Sarah Warren, 15, from Willowbrook, Ill., will showcase their abilities on a new stage at the Winter Youth Olympic Games, which run from Jan. 13-22 in Innsbruck, Austria.
“The farthest I’ve been out of the country is Cabo (San Lucas), Mexico,” Warren said. “It’s going to be a whole new experience for me.”
Both are expected to compete in the 500-meter and 1000-meter races, as well as the mixed 3000-meter relay. Coached by Joe Rohraff, they will be the first class of Team USA for the inaugural Winter Youth Olympic Games.
The Games will feature athletes from around the world competing in several sports, including alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, curling, ice hockey, ice skating, luge and snowboarding.
To qualify, Hong and Warren finished first among Group 2 athletes at the American Cup II last October in Cleveland.
Hong hardly expected this when he first laced up the skates when he was about 5.
“I just had fun out there,” he said. “Now, here I am.”
He has competed in several speedskating events, but “nothing quite this big,” he said.
From a young age, Warren watched the Olympic Games, but admitted speedskating wasn’t “on my radar.” She was more interested in snowboarding and other sports.
Now, speedskating “is all I watch,” she said.
Warren always hoped to compete on a big stage, but she never expected it to be in speedskating. She was a hockey player until five years ago.
“I played with the guys,” she said. “They get bigger and I stayed the same size, so my parents were worried I was going to get hurt.
“I still wanted to skate, though.”
While attending one of her brother’s hockey games, she noticed people speedskating on another rink.
“I tried it, and I absolutely fell in love with it,” she said. “I’ve stuck with it since then.
“I did it at first just for the experience. It’s a part of my life now. I am so happy. I’ve come so far, but I have to keep my eyes open because there’s still so far to go.”
Should Hong and Warren continue on their current paths, Olympic berths could be in their futures.
Hong isn’t even thinking of the Olympic Winter Games yet, though.
“I’m just seeing where this takes me,” he said. “(The Olympic Games) would be great, but I don’t even know what’s going to happen tomorrow.”
Warren, on the other hand, is already pointing toward the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea.
“That is my definite goal,” she said.
As for the Winter Youth Olympic Games, Hong and Warren are simply eager to experience the event. They will be in Innsbruck for 10 days, taking in the sights and meeting new people.
“I just know there’s going to be a lot of people from a lot of different countries representing their individual sports,” Hong said. “I think it’s just going to be more of a fun experience and something we can look back on. Of course, I want to win, but we’ll have to see what happens.”
Warren said the itinerary the athletes have received includes several opportunities to learn about other cultures, meet people from around the world and prepare the young athletes for what the Olympic stage might be like should they get there in the future.
“The main thing I think they’re trying to get out of this experience is for us to compete against international skaters, but also for the young kids to get the Olympic experience,” she said. “They have tons of things, where you learn culturally about all the other countries.”
The emphasis on enjoying the experience suits her just fine.
“I’m a really fun, spirited person,” she said. “I like to have fun and enjoy the experience. When race time comes, I’m very serious. Before that, I will try to enjoy the experience.
“I want to get the experience to where I can see how it is on the world stage. Of course, I want to win, but I’m mainly going for the experience of being on a world stage, and having the press conferences and meeting people from around the world.”
Read More:
youtholympicgames.teamusa.org/news/2012/01/12/speed-skaters-ready-for-winter-youth-olympic-games/46098#.TxCyqCEIuSxTags: Sarah Warren / Thomas Insuk Hong / Short Track Speedskating / Youth Olympic Games
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