Casey Dawson Secures Olympic Spot Amidst Redemption Arc

U.S. long track speedskater Casey Dawson has successfully secured a spot for the upcoming Milan Cortina Games, marking a significant turnaround from his experience at the 2022 Beijing Olympics. Dawson, who missed the 5,000 meters event in Beijing due to COVID-19, won the U.S. Olympic trials in the same distance with a time of 6 minutes, 12.857 seconds. The 25-year-old athlete from Park City, Utah, expressed his eagerness for redemption, stating, “I’m just looking forward to getting there smoothly and just getting a little bit of redemption.”

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Dawson's journey to the Olympics has been marked by challenges, including testing positive for COVID-19 multiple times prior to the Beijing Games, which resulted in him arriving just hours before his scheduled races. He humorously referred to his current situation as his “villain arc,” suggesting a narrative of overcoming adversity.

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In addition to his 5,000 meters qualification, Dawson has already secured a spot in the men’s 10,000 meters, which is not being contested at the trials. He will also compete in the men’s team pursuit alongside Ethan Cepuran and Emery Lehman, with the trio having previously won a bronze medal in Beijing and set a world record in 2024.

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The U.S. Olympic roster for long track speedskating will not be finalized until the conclusion of the trials at the Pettit National Ice Center. The maximum allowable participants for the Games is eight men and six women.

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Another notable athlete, 21-year-old Greta Myers from Lino Lakes, Minnesota, won the women’s 3,000 meters at the trials with a time of 4:06.799. However, the U.S. currently lacks a berth for that event in Milan, although there remains a possibility for an athlete to qualify if another country relinquishes its spot. Myers expressed optimism about her chances, stating, “I think it’s at least a 50-50 chance that it’ll happen.”

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Jordan Stolz, a prominent figure in the sport, is set to make his trials debut in the men’s 1,000 meters. Stolz, who made his Olympic debut at age 17 in Beijing, has already pre-qualified for the Olympics based on his performances at the 2023 and 2024 world championships, where he earned titles in the 500, 1,000, and 1,500 meters.

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The trials will continue through Monday, with critical events including the 500 and 1,500 meters scheduled for Sunday, followed by the mass start on Monday. The final U.S. Olympic roster will be announced after the completion of these events, determining the athletes who will represent the United States in Milan from February 6-22, 2026.

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“It’s kind of fun to have, like, my villain arc, I would call it. Just coming back and having some fun.” — Casey Dawson, U.S. Speedskater

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“But I’m very hopeful.” — Greta Myers, U.S. Speedskater

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