GANGWON, South Korea — Peter Groseclose is set to make his mark in the fourth Winter Youth Olympic Games this Saturday morning at the 12,000-seat Gangneung Ice Arena, diving into action in the challenging 1,500 meters of short track speed skating.
While acknowledging that the 1,500 meters is his weakest event, the 16-year-old Washington DC-based Groseclose emphasized his determination to give it his all.
Groseclose says 1,500m is his weakest event
“To be honest, it is my weakest distance, but I’m not bad at it, I’m more of a sprinter, and this is more of an endurance race,” said Groseclose on Friday. “But I will do my best, and I can be competitive in it,” added Groseclose, who skipped Friday’s opening ceremony to conserve energy for the first of his three events.
The Winter Youth Olympic Games kicked off simultaneously at the Gangneung Oval and Pyeongchang Dome on Friday, with freestyle skier Laetaz Amihan Rabe as the lone flag-bearer during the parade of athletes. Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, secretary-general Atty. Wharton Chan, and chef de mission Ada Milby attended the opening ceremony.
Groseclose is coached in the US by Simon Cho but is being guided here by John-Henry Krueger, a silver medalist in speed skating for the US at the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics.
“Short track is very unpredictable. So as a coach, I want him to focus on every race just one at a time and not think too far down the road,” said Krueger. “If that’s a good race, that’s great. If that’s bad, we have to focus on the next one. There’s no point looking far down the road as the field is too competitive.”
Competing against athletes from 33 other nations, Groseclose faces tough competition, with Jaehee Joo and Yousung Kim of host South Korea expected to contend for the podium.
South Korea is most powerful team
“The general consensus is [host] South Korea is the most powerful team in the World Cup junior competitions, but I’m really glad and ready to compete against them, so let’s see,” Groseclose said.
The 1500m, the longest event in speed skating, involves four to six athletes racing over a 111.111-meter oval. The event starts at 11 a.m. (10 a.m. in Manila).
“These Youth Olympics happen once in a lifetime; they happen every four years, and I’m glad to have this opportunity to get an experience and be part of this event,” said Groseclose, who will also participate in the 1000m on Sunday and 500m on Monday.
The third athlete on Team Philippines, Avery Balbanida, is set to arrive on January 25 ahead of the cross-country skiing events on January 29 and 30.
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