We’re entering the Olympic season with a diverse pool of veteran and youthful talent.
Kearns, Utah (PRWEB) May 31, 2017
US Speedskating announced today the 23 athletes that will be part of the 2017-18 National Training Program (NTP) for the Olympic season. This year’s group features seven Olympians and 21 athletes who are returning from previous year’s NTP programs.
The National Training Program is an elite group of female and male athletes who are selected based on their athletic performance during the 2016-17 season and will be aiming to represent Team USA at the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang.
“We’re entering the Olympic season with a diverse pool of veteran and youthful talent,” said Guy Thibault, US Speedskating high performance director. “I’m looking forward to an excellent showing from our athletes throughout the season heading into Olympic Trials and in PyeongChang.”
The complete Short Track and Long Track NTP roster (in alphabetical order) is listed below and online:
SHORT TRACK (10) * denotes first-year NTP member
Maame Biney* – Reston, VA
Adam Callister – Salt Lake City, UT
Keith Carroll Jr. – Honey Brook, PA
J.R. Celski – Federal Way, WA
Kimi Goetz – Flemington, NJ
Gabriella Hachem* – North Potomac, MD
Thomas Hong - Laurel, MD
Casey Mullarkey – Cleveland, OH
Kristen Santos – Fairfield, CT
Aaron Tran – Federal Way, WA
LONG TRACK (13)
Petra Acker – Clifton Park, NY
Brittany Bowe – Ocala, FL
Jonathan Garcia – Houston, TX
Kimani Griffin – Winston-Salem, NC
Kelly Gunther – Clinton Township, MI
Mia Manganello – Crestview, FL
Joey Mantia – Ocala, FL
Ian Quinn – St. Louis, MO
Carlijn Schoutens – Heemstede, Netherlands
Paige Schwartzburg – Ocala, FL
Jerica Tandiman – Kearns, UT
Sugar Todd – Omaha, NE
Mitch Whitmore – Waukesha, WI
During the 2016-17 speed skating season, U.S. athletes collected 32 international medals, including five World Championship Medals. In addition, of the 23 athletes on this year’s roster, 16 of them were named to a Senior or Junior World Championship team last season.
The Olympic skating season kicks off in Kearns, Utah at the Utah Olympic Oval on August 19-20 with the men and women’s Short Track World Cup Team Qualifier. The Long Track World Cup Team Qualifier will also be at the Utah Olympic Oval on Oct. 11-15.
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About US Speedskating
From Pond to Podium, we are US Speedskating. We grow and nurture a sport where all ages can experience the thrill of speed and the camaraderie of the skating community. US Speedskating is responsible for the development of speed skating from grassroots to the highest elite racing programs. US Speedskating is recognized by the United States Olympic Committee and the International Skating Union as the governing body for the sport of speed skating in the United States. The Organization has won 86 Olympic medals to-date, making it one of the most successful sports in U.S. Olympic history. US Speedskating is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, on Facebook and at http://www.usspeedskating.org.
