Winter Olympics: NZ speed skaters determined to make strong statement

Kiwi speed skater Peter Michael is in confident mood. Photo / Getty Images

Peter Michael admits there is confidence among New Zealand's three speed skaters at the Winter Olympics that they can make a statement in South Korea.

New Zealand have a solitary Winter Olympics medal, won spectacularly by slalom skier Annelise Coberger in Albertville, France in 1992. Sothe country are overdue for more success and Michael, veteran Shane Dobbin and Reyon Kay are a decent chance to deliver.

They are all racing individual events but the team pursuit on February 21 is the big opportunity. They are the first New Zealanders to race as a team at the Games. They won silver at last year's world championships on the Gangneung Oval circuit to be used for the Olympics. Michael also snared a bronze in the 5000m while Kay won World Cup silver in the mass start event last year. That familiarity certainly won't hurt their prospects.

But Michael, while exuding a quiet confidence, isn't about to get ahead of himself on their prospects in PyeongChang.

"It's always going to be hard but we've put in a lot of hard work," Michael, from Wellington, said yesterday. "Anything other than making the last final [racing for gold and silver] would be slightly disappointing."

The team pursuit format has all three racing together over eight laps. Kay leads over the first three, with Michael taking over for the last five and Dobbin's role is key - "conducting" as Michael put it. The third racer across the line has the counting time.

"It's crucial we finish tightly across line. The boys are skating out of their skins, we've just got to tick the boxes on the day," Michael, at 28, the youngest of the trio, said. "If Lady Luck swings our way that'll definitely go a long way but we're putting in the work and the times are coming down.

"It's a big advantage having Shane in the team because he's got that experience."

Dobbin, 38, came out of retirement for his third Olympics, having been flagbearer in Sochi.

"When I've had a hard session, it always helps having that extra drive that Shane didn't come back for no reason. I don't want to let him down," Michael said.

The trio have come out of an inline skating background where all were former world champions.

Europeans dominate the skating disciplines and have just had their European championships recently.

"That's a good gauge. We have a fair idea of how other skaters are going but at the end of the day I can't affect what they do - but our times are good," Michael added.

Ice Speed Skating New Zealand president Matthew Biggs says the trio have worked extremely hard to reach the top level of their sport.

"Their selection is huge for the sport. It is a small sport within New Zealand so it's great to see them do this," he added.

New Zealand's flag was raised at the Olympic village in PyeongChang last night. Eight New Zealand athletes, from snowboarding, skating and skeleton, have settled into the village. The minus 22degC temperatures have caused issues. Attempts to mop the stairwells initially turned them into a treacherous icy surface.

To get the day's top sports stories in your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here