Connor Howe

Other information

TWO-YEAR PLAN He claimed titles in the 1500m and mass start at the 2022 Canadian Championships, and also won silver in the 1000m and finished fourth in the 5000m. After the event he revealed he was partway through a two-year plan that includes prioritising individual racing to improve his chances of a medal at the world allround championships. "I don't think I've ever won a mass start before, so that was kind of a nice surprise. It's kind of a two-year little project I'm working on to do the distances all across the board to get ready for that competition [the world allround championships]." (rmotoday.com, 20 Oct 2022) DEBUT OLYMPIC EXPERIENCE He finished fifth in both the men's 1500m and men's team pursuit at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, as well as 12th in the men's 1000m. He had hoped to win a medal in the 1500m and team pursuit, and finish in the top 10 in the 1000m. "I was pretty sure I wasn't going to win the gold [in the 1500m], but that third and fourth place was within reach, so I kind of had to shoot for that in the back of my mind. [In the team pursuit] we knew we were in the mix for being top four, but yeah, we were doing our strategy with Ted [Jan Bloemen leading] the whole thing – that's what the Americans and Norwegians were doing and the Russians started doing pretty successfully. We worked on that, but we weren't as good as they were, so it was a bit disappointing. I'll take it one year at a time, but I think it would be cool to come back in four years [at Milan-Cortina 2026] and try to build on it." (rmotoday.com, 28 Feb 2022)

When and where did you begin this sport?

He began short track skating at age seven at the Banff Canmore Speed Skating Club in Alberta, Canada. He took up long track speed skating at age 15.

www.facebook.com/connor.howe.9041

Hobbies	Tennis. (Athlete, 17 Jan 2021)
Ambitions	To compete at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan-Cortina. (rmotoday.com, 28 Feb 2022)
Awards and honours	He received the 2021/22 Male Open Long Track Skater of the Year award from Speed Skating Alberta in Canada. (albertaspeedskating.ca, 01 Mar 2022) In December 2019 he received the Peter Williamson Memorial Bursary from Speed Skating Canada, which is presented annually to promising skaters who best combine athletic and scholastic achievement. (speedskating.ca, 10 Dec 2019) He was named Alberta Junior Long Track Speed Skater of the Year at the 2016/17 and 2018/19 Alberta Speed Skating Awards in Canada. (albertaspeedskating.ca, 08 Mar 2019) At the 2015/16 Alberta Speed Skating Awards he received the Kevin Sirois Memorial Award, which is presented to the speed skater who has best exemplified dedication, perseverance and sportsmanship among other qualities. (albertaspeedskating.ca, 08 Mar 2019)

Training Regime

He trains at the Olympic Oval in Calgary, AB, Canada.

Memorable sporting achievement

Competing at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing. (rmotoday.com, 28 Feb 2022; cbc.ca, 08 Feb 2022)

Reason for choosing this sport

"I enjoyed skating from a young age so my parents had me try speed skating." He was later inspired by watching the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. "I paid attention [to Vancouver]. It was pretty special to see. [Competing at the Olympics] seemed really far off, like a low-chance dream, but every year it got more likely in my head. I didn't know if it would happen for sure, until it actually did [in 2022]. It kind of just worked out."

Most influential person in career	His parents. (Athlete, 17 Jan 2021)
Hero / Idol	Canadian speed skater Denny Morrison. (Athlete, 17 Jan 2021)

Name of coach

Bart Schouten [national], NED

Sporting philosophy / motto

"It never gets easier, you just get faster." (Athlete, 17 Jan 2021)