He also has bigger goals.
Peter Groseclose is raring to stomp his class in the 2024 Winter Youth Olympics in Gangnueng, Gangwon province in South Korea.
And if there’s an edge against his foes in the speed skating competitions, it’s got to be his coach, John Henry Kreuger.
Kreuger is a naturalized Hungarian who copped a silver in the 2022 games in Beijing, China.
“I think he just has incredible insight on the trainings and the mental state of the other competitors because he just finished competing,” Groseclose told News5’s Martie Bautista.
“Since it’s still fresh in his mind, the feeling of skating, which is not something a lot of older coaches have. So while I’m on the ice he’s able to give me good advice on my form.”
The Filipino-American, who will strut his stuff in the 500, 1000, and 1500-meter races, respectively, is hopeful he would fare well in the competition which he also sees as stepping stones for a bigger goal: the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Games in Italy.
“I’m gonna keep competing in international competitions like World Cups, World Championships,” said Groseclose, who wound up fourth in the ISU Junior World Cup.
“I think it will be such an honor for me to compete in the senior Olympics in Italy in 2026 for the Philippines. That’s something I’ve been working towards for a long time and I would say that’s the main goal in my mind.”
Joining Groseclose in Gangwon are cross-country skier Avery Uriel Balbanida and freestyle skier Laetaz Amihan Rabe.
The opening ceremony will take place tomorrow, January 19.
(With reports from Martie Bautista, News5)