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Gilmore Junio

Canada

SportSpeed Skating
FederationIDSSCAN10608199001
NOCCanada
Born06 Aug 1990 in  Calgary
GenderMen
ResidenceCalgary, AB, CAN
Higher educationHuman Movement Studies - University of Calgary: Canada
LanguagesEnglish
Personal Bests
EventRecordDateLocation 
Personal Bests
  Event RecordDateLocation 
    500m 34.25 15 Nov 2013 Salt Lake City, UT  
    1000m 1:08.39 16 Nov 2013 Salt Lake City, UT  
    1500m 1:49.31 10 Sep 2016 Calgary  
General Interest
General Interest
InjuriesIn 2009 he sustained T5 and T8 compression fractures to his back after crashing during a race. He returned to competition about two months later. (Athlete, 03 Dec 2015, 23 Nov 2019; gilmorejunio.com, 06 Aug 2011)  
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
Reason for choosing this sport"I transitioned to speed skating after playing ice hockey. My dad saw an advert on television for a speed skating camp and thought I'd be good."  
General Interest
General Interest
Hero / IdolCanadian ice hockey player Jarome Iginla, Swiss tennis player Roger Federer. (Athlete, 23 Nov 2019)  
Awards and honoursHe was named the 2014 Skater of the Year by the Alberta Amateur Speed Skating Association [AASSA] in Canada. (schaatsen.nl, 02 May 2016)

He was named the 2010 Male Junior Athlete of the Year in Alberta, Canada. (speedskating.ca, 12 Apr 2011)
 
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
When and where did you begin this sport?He took up the sport in 2003 in Calgary, AB, Canada. "I started playing [ice] hockey when I was seven years old, fell in love with the game, just loved being on the ice. When I was 13 it kind of became apparent that I was not going to have the size or skill to get to the NHL, but I was always one of the better skaters on my hockey team."  
General Interest
General Interest
NicknamesGil, Happy Gilmore, Chipotle (Coach Dusseault Conditioning YouTube channel, 09 Nov 2021; Twitter profile, 10 Dec 2020; Facebook profile, 22 Nov 2019)  
Other informationFROZEN LAKE TRAINING
After an ice malfunction at the Olympic Oval in Calgary, AB, Canada, where he usually trains, in late 2020 he and other speed skaters from the Canadian national team spent time training on frozen lakes in Alberta, Canada. "We're all wearing our track suits, and we will get some looks, like, 'Who are those guys?' And then, we bring out the speed skates. We'll get a couple of kids that want to try to skate as fast as we do or get involved and, you know, take part in a little bit of our practice. And that's been really neat. People have been really receptive to it, and I think it's been a really cool thing to see on the lake. As a long-track speed skater trying to prepare for competitions, [no ice] is a bit of a problem. We've been kind of making do with different modes of training, but with the potential competition returning in 2021 and, big picture, preparing for the Olympics for 2022, we felt that we needed to try to get on some ice." (cbc.ca, 07 Dec 2020)

GOLD MEDAL DISQUALIFICATION
At the 2020 World Single Distances Championships in Salt Lake City, UT, United States of America, he was part of the Canadian group that posted the fastest time in the team sprint event before being disqualified. "We were the better team but unfortunately we were disqualified because of an illegal exchange. Rules are rules, nevertheless it's still a tough pill to swallow." (Instagram profile, 14 Feb 2020; speedskating.ca, 13 Feb 2020)

SWITCHING DISCIPLINES
In 2009 he fractured two vertebrae in a short track crash, which led him to take up long track speed skating. "Even with that I refused to give in. Not wanting the injury to put an end to my goal of representing Canada that season, two days after returning from Quebec I was back training. But I had switched my focus from short track to speed skating, where the risk of falling and re-injuring myself was much less." (Coach Dusseault Conditioning YouTube channel, 09 Nov 2021; gilmorejunio.com, 06 Aug 2011; speedskating.ca, 12 Apr 2011)

SPORTING GESTURE
He qualified to represent Canada in the 1000m at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi but gave his place to teammate Denny Morrison, who Junio believed had a better chance of claiming a medal. Morrison went on to win silver in the race. "It was an amazing time in my life and something I don't regret. Seeing Denny on that podium validated everything for me. It was great Canada and the world got to know me on a more personal level, but at the end of the day I am an athlete and what I want to accomplish is getting on the podium." (Speed Skating Canada YouTube channel, 30 Jan 2020; globalnews.ca, 30 Jan 2020; cbc.ca, 10 Nov 2016, 11 Feb 2014)

HERITAGE
His parents Gino and Julie are both from the Philippines but met in Winnipeg, MB, Canada, in the 1970s. The couple later settled in Calgary, AB, Canada, in the 1980s. "With being older [speaking in 2021], I think I take a little bit more responsibility of being a representative of the Asian-Canadian community on the Olympic team and on the speed skating team." (ca.sports.yahoo.com, 27 Oct 2021; Speed Skating Canada YouTube channel, 30 Jan 2020; canadianfilipino.net, 01 Feb 2019)

OTHER ACTIVITIES
He has served as a mentor for Classroom Champions, a Canadian charity that connects school students with athletes. "I just love seeing the look on the kids' faces when we do these events. [The excitement] gets me pumped up to speed skate and to try to accomplish more. I think trying to give to others and being a good friend, teammate, or brother - a lot of good things can happen because of that." (Classroom Champions Facebook page, 14 Sep 2021; Classroom Champions YouTube channel, 20 Apr 2020; calgary.ctvnews.ca, 30 Jan 2020)
 
Most influential person in careerCanadian speed skaters Jamie Gregg and Denny Morrison. (Athlete, 23 Nov 2019)  
Sporting philosophy / motto"Always learn. Always grow. Give what you have." (Athlete, 13 Nov 2017)  
Social Media
Social Media
www.gilmorejunio.com  
twitter.com/cdnhappygilmore  
www.facebook.com/Gilmore-Junio-582537381821299  
General Interest
General Interest
Memorable sporting achievementCompeting at the Olympic Winter Games in 2014 and 2018. (Classroom Champions YouTube channel, 20 Apr 2020)  
Championships results
Year Competition Event Rank  
Championships results
    2014/2015 World Single Distances Championships 2 x 500m8  
    2014 Olympic Games 2 x 500m10  
    2019/2020 World Single Distances Championships 500m11  
    2020/2021 World Single Distances Championships 500m13  
    2012/2013 World Sprint Championships Overall14  
    2018/2019 World Single Distances Championships 500m17  
    2018 Olympic Games 500m17  
    2012/2013 World Single Distances Championships 2 x 500m19  
    2015/2016 World Single Distances Championships 2 x 500m19  
    2014/2015 World Sprint Championships Overall19  
    2022 Olympic Games 500m21  
World Cups
Year Competition Event Rank  
World Cups
    2015/2016 Heerenveen Team Sprint1  
    2017/2018 Calgary, AB Team Sprint1  
    2013/2014 Salt Lake City, UT 500m1  
    2017/2018 Stavanger Team Sprint1  
    2015/2016 Inzell 500m1  
    2015/2016 Heerenveen Team Sprint2  
    2013/2014 Inzell 500m2  
    2012/2013 Nagano 500m2  
    2015/2016 World Cup Classification 500m3  
    2013/2014 Heerenveen 500m3  
    2015/2016 Heerenveen 500m3  
    2019/2020 Minsk Team Sprint3  
    2015/2016 Stavanger 500m3  
    2013/2014 World Cup Classification 500m6  
    2012/2013 World Cup Classification 500m8  
    2019/2020 World Cup Classification 500m11  
    2020/2021 World Cup Classification 500m13  
    2014/2015 World Cup Classification 500m13  
    2015/2016 World Cup Classification Overall15  
    2017/2018 World Cup Classification 500m15  
    2021/2022 World Cup Classification 500m16  
    2011/2012 World Cup Classification 500m16  
    2013/2014 World Cup Classification Overall21  
    2018/2019 World Cup Classification 500m23  
    2015/2016 World Cup Classification 1000m26  
    2010/2011 World Cup Classification 500m27  
    2011/2012 World Cup Classification 1000m36  
    2016/2017 World Cup Classification 500m37  
    2012/2013 World Cup Classification Overall38  
    2013/2014 World Cup Classification 1000m41  
    2012/2013 World Cup Classification 1000m41  
    2010/2011 World Cup Classification 1000m43  
    2017/2018 World Cup Classification Overall53