Filipino-American Short Track Speed Skater Peter Groseclose has etched his name in Philippine sports history, achieving a groundbreaking feat at the 4th Winter Youth Olympic Games in South Korea.
Filipino-American Short Track Speed Skater Peter Groseclose (2nd from right) with (L-R): Philippine Skating Union President Nikki Cheng, International Skating Union President Jae Youl Kim, and International Skating Union Director General Colin Smith at the 4th Winter Youth Olympic Games in South Korea.
Groseclose's remarkable performance in the 500m distance short track speed skating, where he secured 5th place, has not only earned him the highest ranking ever achieved by the Philippines in winter sports at an Olympic event but has also solidified the country's reputation for excelling and dominating in a winter sport, despite being a warmer country. Despite finishing 5th in the 500m, he recorded the 3rd overall fastest time among all 36 competitors, trailing only behind the United States of America (USA) and China.
Filipino-American Short Track Speed Skater Peter Groseclose achieves the highest-ever ranking for the Philippines in winter sports at an Olympic event with his remarkable 5th-place finish in the 500m short track speed skating at the 4th Winter Youth Olympic Games in Gangwon, South Korea. Photo from Champions Ice Skating.
Peter Groseclose (middle) clocks the 3rd fastest overall time, trailing only behind the United States of America and China, despite securing a 5th-place finish in the 500m. Photo from Champions Ice Skating.
Adding to his list of achievements, Groseclose set a new Philippine national record of 1:26:19 in the 1000m short track speed skating at the Desert Classic Short Track in the USA in August 2023. In October 2023, the promising skater broke the Southeast Asian record, clocking 41.18 in the 500m distance at the International Skating Union (ISU) World Cup 1 held in Canada.
Internationally, the 16-year-old skater showcased his skills by securing 4th place in the 1000m event at the ISU Jr. World Cup in the Netherlands in November and finishing 6th in the 500m distance.
Groseclose's journey began at the age of 6, and for the past 8 years, he has dedicated his training specifically to short track speed skating, a sport that tests the speed and technical skating ability of its competitors. Unlike traditional long-track speed skating, contestants race against each other instead of the clock.
Whenever he has time, 16-year-old Filipino-American Short Track Speed Skater Peter Groseclose gives back by teaching kids speed skating at SM Skating in the Philippines.
To learn more about SM Skating and available skating lessons, please follow SM Skating on social media, or visit the nearest SM Skating branch at SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall, and SM Seaside City Cebu.
