Sport | Speed Skating | |
FederationID | SSNZL11802200001 | |
NOC | New Zealand | |
Born | 18 Feb 2000 | |
Gender | Men |
Residence | New Zealand | |
Occupation | Engineer | |
Languages | English |
Club / Team | South Canterbury Speed Skating Club: New Zealand |
Injuries | In 2018 he broke his collarbone while cycling and needed six weeks to recover. (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023) He injured his groin two weeks before the 2018 Oceania Junior Championships in Timaru, New Zealand. He was still able to compete and won gold in the 42km marathon event at the tournament. (odt.co.nz, 07 Apr 2018) |
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Famous relatives | His father Brett McCormack is a former world masters champion in roller speed skating. He has also worked as an roller speed skating and cycling coach in New Zealand. (Brett McCormack Instagram profile, 12 Sep 2022; stuff.co.nz, 09 May 2022) |
Name of coach | Brett McCormack [father] |
www.facebook.com/mark.mccormack.9889 |
Hobbies | Playing video games, cycling. (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023) | |
Superstitions / Rituals / Beliefs | He puts his right skate on first. (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023) | |
Other sports | He has represented New Zealand in roller speed skating, and competed in the road marathon at the 2018 World Championships in Arnhem, Netherlands. (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023; SportsDeskOnline, 09 Feb 2023) |
Reason for choosing this sport | He had previously competed in short track and roller speed skating. "I decided to put them both together." |
Most influential person in career | His father. (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023) | |
Hero / Idol | New Zealand speed skater Peter Michael, US speed skater Joey Mantia, and his father. (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023) | |
Ambitions | To compete at the Olympic Winter Games. (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023) |
When and where did you begin this sport? | He took up long track speed skating in 2022 in the Netherlands. |
Nicknames | Spartacus ["My mum would call me that around my friends at races."] (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023) | |
Sporting philosophy / motto | "Skate fast, turn left." (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023) |