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O’Brien Rounds Out Euros With Quarterfinals Appearance

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Liam O’Brien made his third appearance at the ISU European Short Track Speed Skating Championships this weekend in Gdansk, Poland as Ireland’s sole participant on this occasion.

On the opening day of the qualification rounds, O’Brien raced over three distances. First up was the 1500 metres where he was drawn in Heat 5 of the quarterfinals. He kept in contention throughout most of the race, but fell just out of contact in the closing laps and finished fourth in a time of 2:30.801. Shortly afterwards he was back for the 500 metres heats lining up in Heat 6. He raced hard to a time of 42.280 and narrowly failed to advance as he came third. He concluded Day One with another third place in Heat 1 of the 1000 metres heats in a time of 1:30.877.

The second day of the championships saw O’Brien compete in the 1500 and 500 metres repechage quarterfinals. He raced in Heat 2 of the 1500 metres and with five laps to go was already out of contention when he crashed out of the race and ended up with no time. He was classified 34th for the distance. In Heat 5 of the 500 metres, he set up himself up to potentially advance by time as a second place finisher, but was overtaken on the penultimate lap. He posted a time of 42.576 and came 29th for the distance.

All that was left for O’Brien on the final day of the championships was the 1000 metres repechage quarterfinals. With seven laps left in Heat 2, he was disrupted by a fellow competitor, veered off track and came home in fourth with a time of 1:51.968. However, he was advanced to the repechage semifinals due to being impeded. During the repechage semifinal, he once again came off worse for wear from contact with another skater with four laps to go and crossed the line in fifth place in 2:04.946. Ultimately, he was advanced to the main session quarterfinals drawing Heat 1. He finished in 5th place in a time of 1:29.018 concluding his participation at this season’s Europeans with a 19th place classification for the distance.

“It was a weekend with a lot of up and downs,” O’Brien said. I was disappointed I couldn’t show more in the 1500m, but relieved the decisions went my way in the 1000m repechage and came out of it with a quarterfinal.”

O’Brien Kicks Off 2024 At Short Track Euros

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Liam O’Brien (25) lines up this weekend at the ISU European Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Gdansk, Poland (12-14 January).

The ice at the Hala Olivia is familiar territory for O’Brien with both his two previous appearances in 2021 and 2023 having taken place at the same venue. At last season’s Europeans, he became the first Irish skater to qualify for a semi-final and he will be aiming to do even better this time round. He will be among a field of over 130 athletes from 25 countries racing for top honours at an event that was first held in 1997. Skaters race against each other over 500, 1000 and 1500 metre distances.

“It’s good to be back here in Poland again for the European Championships,” O’Brien said. “I’m looking forward to racing for Ireland this weekend and hope to improve on last year’s semifinal performance and be up there amongst my competitors.”

The ISU European Short Track Speed Skating Championships will be broadcast on the Skating ISU YouTube channel. Geographical restrictions may apply. The results of the championships can be followed on the event results page and on social media via the #ShortTrackSkating hashtag.

Historic Weekend For Irish Short Track At Gdansk Euros

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Sean McAnuff and Liam O’Brien took Irish short track speed skating to new heights at this weekend’s European Championships in Gdansk, Poland.

Racing at the Hala Olivia arena began on Friday with the qualification rounds. O’Brien lined up in Heat 3 of the 1500 metres quarterfinals in which he finished fourth in a time of 2:26.961. McAnuff appeared in Heat 7 and placed sixth with a time of 2:27.128. Both would have a second shot in the repechage the following day.

McAnuff took to the ice next in Heat 1 of the 500 metres heats. He fought hard in what was a tough race originally crossing the line in third. However, an athlete ahead of him was disqualified and McAnuff’s result was revised giving him second place and an automatic berth in Saturday afternoon’s quarterfinals. This was a first for an Irish skater at a European Championships. In Heat 9 O’Brien finished third in a time of 43.457 which put him in the repechage the following morning.

The first day of racing concluded for Team Ireland with the 1000 metres heats. McAnuff started in Heat 4 and ended in fourth place with a time of 1:33.028 giving him another opportunity in the repechage on Sunday. Unfortunately for O’Brien, he was penalised in Heat 8 and would take no further part in the distance.

The second day of competition commenced with the 1500 metres repechage quarterfinals. O’Brien comfortably won Heat 2 in a time of 2:24.948 to advance to the next round. McAnuff went in Heat 4 and just missed out on joining O’Brien as he came fourth in a time 2:36.623.

O’Brien came back for the 1500 metres repechage semifinals knowing he needed a win and nothing less to secure a spot in the afternoon’s 1500 metres semifinals. In a nail biting finish, he crossed the line in 2:31.135 a mere 0.014 seconds ahead of the second place athlete. Ireland would have not one, but two athletes in an afternoon session of a European Championships for the very first time.

It was a busy morning for O’Brien as he was back for the 500 metres repechage quarterfinals hoping to do the same as he did in the 1500 metres. However, he false started in Heat 5 and was disqualified.

O’Brien was drawn in Heat 2 of the 1500 metres semifinals. It proved to be a somewhat messy race and O’Brien was penalised bringing his racing at the championships to a slightly disappointing end. He came 22nd in the distance classification with McAnuff 32nd.

McAnuff was up in Heat 3 of the 500 metres quarterfinals and it was a swift race. He finished fifth in the heat with a time of 43.272. This put him in 19th in the distance classification which is the first time an Irish athlete has finished inside the Top 20 at a European Short Track Speed Skating Championships. O’Brien was 42nd overall.

There was just the 1000 metres repechage quarterfinals left for McAnuff on the final day of the championships. He raced in Heat 5 where he wound up third in a time of 1:42.339 and just missed out on advancing any further. His distance classification was 31st with O’Brien’s 43rd.

“This year’s European Championships were so much fun,” McAnuff said. “I got to engage with and enjoy the company of so many athletes. There was a great atmosphere of supporting one another and encouragement between smaller countries.

“I felt I came back after last season refreshed and with a whole new enjoyment of the sport. I was very pleased with my outcome finishing with the best results of my career, in the 500 metres. I have been training hard off the ice for the last eight months and my coaches and I saw a huge improvement from focusing on these aspects of training. I’m looking forward to future competitions and pushing beyond my limits.”

“The competition definitely had its highs and lows,” O’Brien said. “Qualification didn’t go as planned, but I was happy to bounce back in the repechage on Saturday and make it through to the semifinals in the 1500 metres. In the semi, I thought I was a bit unfortunate to get penalised, but that’s racing. Overall, there was a lot to come out of the competition and take into future races.”

“Sean has delivered his best performance to date at a European Championships,” team leader Karen O’Sullivan said. “His 19th place finish in the 500 metres has to be satisfying for him and the training he has committed to over the season. It will spur him on to improving on this result at his next competition. World Cup 5 in Dresden, Germany in a couple of weeks. After his race this morning he expressed the target of a 16th place in Dresden in the 500 metres.

“The results were not what Liam was hoping for at this championships,” O’Sullivan said. “However, he goes back to his training centre with renewed motivation. This has been a learning championships for Liam and he has shown great mental strength throughout the weekend. His races on Saturday showed us what he is capable of into the future.

“Overall, both competitors did well and have exceeded previous results of Irish athletes at these championships in the past.”

McAnuff and O’Brien Fly The Flag For Ireland At Short Track Euros

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Sean McAnuff (25) and Liam O’Brien (24) line up this weekend (13-15 January) representing Ireland in the ISU European Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Gdansk, Poland.The Irish skaters will be among a field of over 130 athletes from 25 countries racing for top honours at an event that was first held in 1997. Last year’s edition was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.McAnuff and O’Brien will begin the championships on Friday, 13 January with the qualifications rounds of the 500, 1000 and 1500 metres distances. Subsequent rounds, quarterfinals, semifinals and finals will take place on Saturday, 14 January and Sunday, 15 January.

It will be the fourth appearance at Europeans for McAnuff and his first since 2020.

“It’s so great to be back at Europeans,” McAnuff said. “It sure hasn’t felt like three years since I raced in these Championships. I am very excited to line up against the best skaters in Europe. I look forward to skating to the best of my ability and having fun while doing it!”

O’Brien will feel right at home in the Hala Olivia arena as this is the venue where he made his European debut in 2021.

“It feels good to be back in Gdansk,” O’Brien said. “Last time I was here we were in the middle of the pandemic and not able to leave the hotel. This time I had the chance to get out and explore a bit of the city so I feel more relaxed going into the competition. I am hoping I can improve on my last European results off the back of World Cup 3 and 4.”

The ISU European Short Track Speed Skating Championships will be broadcast online on Eurosport and the ISU YouTube channel. Geographical restrictions may apply. The results of the championships can be followed on the event results page and on social media via the #ShortTrackSkating hashtag.

2023 Short Track And Figure Euros Teams Named

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January 2023 will be a busy month with Ireland represented at both Short Track Speed Skating and Figure Skating European Championships.

Sean McAnuff and Liam O’Brien will race at Short Track Europeans between 13-15 January at the Hala Olivia in Gdansk, Poland. McAnuff finished 35th at the World Championships in Montreal, Canada back in April. It will be his fourth appearance at Europeans.

“I am really excited to compete the upcoming European Championships as it will be my first time in Poland,” McAnuff said. “I took most of this past year off to relax and reflect on why I would like to continue to pursue a career in speed skating. I came to the conclusion going into this competition I find it rewarding to achieve goals I set out for myself. I want to strive to race to the best of my ability and encourage other to do the same while strengthening friendships to be more involved in the skating community.”

O’Brien has had a great season so far. In back to back outings at World Cups in Almaty, Kazakhstan, he set a new national record in the 1000 metres and also became the first Irish skater to race in a World Cup semi-final at any distance.

“I’m excited to get the opportunity to race at Europeans,” O’Brien said. “I can’t wait to head back to Poland where I skated my first competition and previous European Championships for Ireland. I hope to build on the performance from World Cup 4 and aim towards the championship main event.”

After missing out on the previous two editions through cancellation and illness respectively, Sam McAllister makes his European debut at the Metro Areena in Espoo, Finland with the championships taking place 23-29 January. He will become only the third skater to represent Ireland at the event since it began back in 1891.

“I am beyond excited and ready for Europeans,” McAllister said. “I have never travelled to Finland before so I’m looking forward to also visiting a new country. I am planning to go and enjoy this event and gain more experience.”

ISU European Short Track Speed Skating Championships 2023 – Gdansk, Poland (13-15 January)

Men: Sean McAnuff, Liam O’Brien

ISU European Figure Skating Championships 2023 – Espoo, Finland (23-29 January)

Men: Sam McAllister

O’Brien Races To 25th At Short Track Euros

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Irish short track speed skater Liam O’Brien (22) has finished in 25th place overall on his debut at the European Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Gdansk, Poland (22-24 January). Read more

O’Brien Ready For Short Track Europeans Debut

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Liam O’Brien (22) will make his ISU (International Skating Union) Championship debut for Ireland this weekend at the European Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Gdansk, Poland (22-24 January).

The championships are being held in accordance with the Guidelines for ISU Events during the COVID-19 Pandemic with comprehensive testing, hygiene and social distancing protocols in place.

O’Brien will be among over 140 athletes from 24 countries participating in the annual event. He will first race on Friday (22 January) in the qualifying rounds for the 500, 1000 and 1500 metre distances with further rounds taking place over the following two days.

“It’s a very different atmosphere from previous competitions,” O’Brien said. “We can only leave the hotel for practice or competition and meals are served to our rooms.

“It’s been a long time since my last competition, so I’m excited to get out there and race. It’s also my first European Championships and first international competition representing Ireland so I hope I can put out a strong performance.”

The European Short Track Speed Skating Championships will be broadcast online with the qualifying rounds on 22 January on the ISU YouTube channel and subsequent rounds and finals on the Eurosport Player (paid subscription required). Geographical restrictions may apply.

The results of the championships can be followed on the event results page and on social media via the #EuroShortTrack and #ShortTrackSkating hashtags.

O’Brien Poland Bound For 2021 Short Track Europeans

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The Ice Skating Association of Ireland (ISAI) has selected Liam O’Brien to be the sole Irish representative at the 2021 European Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Gdansk, Poland (22-24 January).

This will be O’Brien’s International Skating Union (ISU) Championship debut for Ireland. He currently trains in Seongnam, South Korea under coach Lee Kwang Soo.

“I am very honoured to be given the opportunity to represent Ireland at the prestigious European Championships,” O’Brien said. “It will be my first Senior competition for Ireland and want to put out a strong performance and I am eager to race.”