The Philippine Skating Union (PhSU) has high hopes for speed skater Peter Groseclose in the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Thailand from 9 to 20 December.
PhSU president Nikki Cheng said the 18-year-old Groseclose’s overseas achievements make him a favorite to sweep the men’s 500-meter and 1500m events.
The Philippines only captured a bronze medal in the 2019 SEA Games in Manila in speed skating after Marc Joseph Gonzales made the podium in the men’s 1000m event.
“I guess if we look at the results of all Southeast Asian nations, Peter really has a good chance at the gold in the SEA Games. So out of all the participants, Peter has the biggest chance to win,” Cheng told DAILY TRIBUNE.
“He’s the most accomplished out of everyone. He’s really a shoo-in.”
The Los Angeles-based Groseclose finished in fifth place in the Winter Youth Olympics in Gangwon, South Korea where he clocked in at 41.697 seconds in the men’s 500m event.
Groseclose also captured a bronze medal in the ISU Junior World Cup 2 in Bormio, Italy last November.
Groseclose is also an International Olympic Committee scholar as he is preparing to enter the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.