Dockland’s juniors speeding to success

By Melissa Kah

The Docklands’ ice rink is producing Australia’s future Winter Olympic stars.

With the support of the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia (OWI) and Olympian Lachlan Hay as coach, three junior Docklands speed skaters have qualified to skate in the 2017 Junior World Championships in Austria and at last month’s senior World Cup in Germany.

Katie and her brother’s Skyler and Joshua train four mornings a week on the ice, with the Australian Ice Racing junior development squad. The squad has quickly become part of the Docklands’ community as they are often seen training outside the rink and at the Ron Barassi Snr Park.

Their sleep-deprived parents are also a fixture of Waterfront City cafes early in the mornings!

Short track speed skating has been an Olympic sport since 1992 and Australia won its first Winter Olympic medal and first Winter Olympic gold medal in the discipline.

You may remember Steven Bradbury’s “last man standing” gold medal. It was spectacular! Today it is the Koreans, Americans, Chinese and Hungarians that dominate the sport at the international level, but Australia always manages top 10 placings.

The Olympic Southern Flyers is Docklands’ speed skating club. Beginners of all ages and abilities can try the sport on Monday evenings at 6.00pm by simply paying at the front door. All equipment and coaching is provided free.

The Olympic Southern Flyers club promotes fitness and socialising for adults.

If you’re not into skating, be sure to wave and cheer on our young Docklands athletes as they run past you on a sunny afternoon!