Thomas Insuk Hong

United States

Sport	Short Track
FederationID	STUSA10207199701
NOC	United States
Born	02 Jul 1997 in Seoul
Gender	Men

Occupation	Athlete, Coach
Languages	English, Korean
Higher education	Finance - University of Maryland: College Park, MD, USA

Personal Bests	Event	Record	Date	Location
Personal Bests
	Event	Record	Date	Location
	500m	41.616	08 Mar 2014	Erzurum
	1000m	1:23.844	10 Nov 2018	Salt Lake City, UT
	1500m	2:24.802	07 Mar 2014	Erzurum

Main Achievements
Main Achievements
World Junior Championships	Event
World Junior Championships
	3000m Relay	1

Sport Specific Information

Club / Team	Potomac Speed Skating Club: United States
Reason for choosing this sport	"When I was a baby I would want to put on [his sister Stephanie's] skates. I really liked it when I was younger because I just liked to go fast, and we go faster around the ice than we do on the ground. It was fun."
When and where did you begin this sport?	He began skating at age four in Columbia, MD, United States of America.

Social Media

www.facebook.com/thong.fbaby

General Interest

Hero / Idol	US basketball player Kobe Bryant. (Athlete, 05 Dec 2019)
Sporting philosophy / motto	"Over-prepare and pay attention to detail." (Athlete, 08 Nov 2018)
Other information	OTHER ACTIVITIES He is a coach at United Capital Blades Speed Skating Club in Washington, DC, United States of America. He has also served as a member of the athletes' advisory council of US Speed Skating. (ucbspeedskating.org, 22 Oct 2020; teamusa.org, 10 Jul 2020) GRANDMOTHER His grandmother has played an influential role in his short track career. "It used to be common in Korean culture for the grandmother to be very present in the lives of the grandchildren. So my grandma used to take my sister to skating practice, then me. As I began improving she would be encouraging and slightly coaching me. She had no prior history in the sport but she had an eye for it. Even today, she watches most of my practices back in Maryland [United States of America] and if I have a bad day, I'll ask her how I did. She'll always say things I need to hear. From my technique, to how explosive or how weak I look, she'll mention it all." (isu.org, 09 Nov 2018) KOREAN HERITAGE He was born in Seoul, Republic of Korea, but moved to Maryland, United States of America, with his mother, sister and grandmother at age four. (nbc4i.com, 05 Sep 2017; baltimoresun.com, 01 Nov 2015)
Most influential person in career	His grandmother. (Athlete, 05 Dec 2019)

Sport Specific Information

Name of coach

Simon Cho [club], USA

General Interest

Injuries	He has required 40 stitches to a chin injury during his career. (Athlete, 08 Nov 2018) He experienced knee pain at age 13 that almost forced him to end his short track career. (isu.org, 09 Nov 2018)
Memorable sporting achievement	Competing at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang, and breaking the world record in the 5000m relay with the US team at the 2017 World Cup event in Shanghai, People's Republic of China. (Athlete, 08 Nov 2018)
Ambitions	To finish on the podium at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing. (isu.org, 09 Nov 2018)

Championships results	Year	Competition	Event	Rank
Championships results
	2016/2017	World Junior Championships	3000m Relay	3
	2019/2020	Four Continents Championships	5000m Relay	3
	2019/2020	Four Continents Championships	1500m	3
	2016/2017	World Junior Championships	Overall	4
	2012/2013	World Junior Championships	3000m Relay	4
	2018	Olympic Games	5000m Relay	5
	2017/2018	World Championships	5000m Relay	6
	2016/2017	World Championships	5000m Relay	7
	2013/2014	World Junior Championships	Overall	7
	2013/2014	World Junior Championships	3000m Relay	8
	2014/2015	World Junior Championships	3000m Relay	11
	2018/2019	World Championships	500m	13
	2014/2015	World Junior Championships	Overall	17
	2018	Olympic Games	500m	23
	2018/2019	World Championships	1500m	23
	2018/2019	World Championships	Overall	28
	2018/2019	World Championships	1000m	50

World Cups	Year	Competition	Event	Rank
World Cups
	2017/2018	Shanghai	5000m Relay	1
	2016/2017	Gangneung	5000m Relay	3
	2017/2018	Seoul	5000m Relay	3
	2018/2019	Calgary, AB	2000m Relay	4
	2019/2020	Salt Lake City, UT	2000m Relay	4
	2019/2020	Shanghai	2000m Relay	4
	2016/2017	Calgary, AB	5000m Relay	5
	2018/2019	Calgary, AB	500m	5
	2019/2020	Salt Lake City, UT	5000m Relay	7
	2018/2019	Calgary, AB	5000m Relay	7
	2018/2019	Dresden	1000m	7
	2018/2019	Salt Lake City, UT	1000m	7
	2018/2019	Salt Lake City, UT	2000m Relay	8
	2018/2019	Salt Lake City, UT	5000m Relay	9
	2018/2019	Dresden	500m	9
	2018/2019	Dresden	2000m Relay	9
	2016/2017	Minsk	5000m Relay	10
	2018/2019	Dresden	5000m Relay	10
	2019/2020	Shanghai	5000m Relay	10
	2016/2017	Salt Lake City, UT	5000m Relay	11
	2016/2017	Shanghai	5000m Relay	12
	2016/2017	Dresden	1500m	14
	2018/2019	Calgary, AB	1000m	14
	2016/2017	Minsk	1000m	15
	2018/2019	Salt Lake City, UT	500m	15
	2018/2019	World Cup Classification	500m	16
	2016/2017	Gangneung	500m	16
	2016/2017	Calgary, AB	500m	17
	2016/2017	Dresden	5000m Relay	17
	2016/2017	Minsk	500m	17
	2016/2017	Gangneung	1000m	17
	2018/2019	World Cup Classification	1000m	20
	2016/2017	Shanghai	1000m	21
	2016/2017	Salt Lake City, UT	500m	21
	2017/2018	Shanghai	500m	23
	2019/2020	Shanghai	500m	23
	2016/2017	Dresden	500m	24
	2017/2018	World Cup Classification	500m	25
	2016/2017	Shanghai	500m	25
	2019/2020	Salt Lake City, UT	500m	27
	2016/2017	Salt Lake City, UT	1500m	28
	2016/2017	Calgary, AB	500m	29
	2019/2020	World Cup Classification	500m	43
	2016/2017	World Cup Classification	500m	45
	2015/2016	World Cup Classification	500m	45
	2017/2018	World Cup Classification	1500m	48
	2016/2017	World Cup Classification	1500m	51
	2016/2017	World Cup Classification	1000m	56
	2019/2020	World Cup Classification	1500m	60
	2015/2016	World Cup Classification	1000m	66