Winter Olympics: Speed skater Peter Michael thinking ahead to 2022 Beijing Olympics

  • 25/02/2018

New Zealand's Winter Olympics campaign has only just drawn to a close, but speed skater Peter Michael is already targeting Beijing in 2022.

Michael finished 15th in the final of the mass start in South Korea on Sunday morning, to go along with two heart-breaking fourth-place finishes in the team pursuit and the men's 5000m.

The 28-year-old was disappointed he failed to secure a medal in Pyeongchang, but that only drives him to do even better in four years' time.

"It definitely could have gone a lot worse, obviously it could have gone better, but I'm starting to move forward," he said.

"It is four years away but time is ticking, so it will be a short little break to revaluate everything and spend some time with my family.

"I'll head back to New Zealand and then I'll slowly start getting back into training and then I'll be back into my ice off-season, which consist of lots of inline racing.

"I use the inline season for my downtime on the ice, which keeps me sharp and mentally ready." 

Despite not medalling, Michael is hoping he has encouraged at least one person to try speed skating in the future.

"It would be really nice if we could make some waves here and there to try to get some more support, and some up-and-comers would be nice.

"Even if we could attract two or three people it would be a start. Hopefully out of everything, if my results did anything I'd hope they'd just encourage people to try stuff."

With Michael being the last Kiwi in action, the campaign ends with two bronze medals from teenagers Nico Porteous and Zoi Sadowski-Synnott.

Newshub.