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Thomas Insuk Hong

United States

SportShort Track
FederationIDSTUSA10207199701
NOCUnited States
Born02 Jul 1997 in Seoul 
GenderMen
OccupationAthlete, Coach
LanguagesEnglish, Korean
Higher educationFinance - University of Maryland: College Park, MD, USA
Personal Bests
EventRecordDateLocation 
Personal Bests
  Event RecordDateLocation 
    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
Sport Specific Information
Club / TeamPotomac 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
Social Media
www.facebook.com/thong.fbaby  
General Interest
General Interest
Hero / IdolUS basketball player Kobe Bryant. (Athlete, 05 Dec 2019)  
Sporting philosophy / motto"Over-prepare and pay attention to detail." (Athlete, 08 Nov 2018)  
Other informationOTHER 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 careerHis grandmother. (Athlete, 05 Dec 2019)  
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
Name of coachSimon Cho [club], USA  
General Interest
General Interest
InjuriesHe 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 achievementCompeting 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)  
AmbitionsTo 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 Relay3  
    2019/2020 Four Continents Championships 5000m Relay3  
    2019/2020 Four Continents Championships 1500m3  
    2016/2017 World Junior Championships Overall4  
    2012/2013 World Junior Championships 3000m Relay4  
    2018 Olympic Games 5000m Relay5  
    2017/2018 World Championships 5000m Relay6  
    2016/2017 World Championships 5000m Relay7  
    2013/2014 World Junior Championships Overall7  
    2013/2014 World Junior Championships 3000m Relay8  
    2014/2015 World Junior Championships 3000m Relay11  
    2018/2019 World Championships 500m13  
    2014/2015 World Junior Championships Overall17  
    2018 Olympic Games 500m23  
    2018/2019 World Championships 1500m23  
    2018/2019 World Championships Overall28  
    2018/2019 World Championships 1000m50  
World Cups
Year Competition Event Rank  
World Cups
    2017/2018 Shanghai 5000m Relay1  
    2016/2017 Gangneung 5000m Relay3  
    2017/2018 Seoul 5000m Relay3  
    2018/2019 Calgary, AB 2000m Relay4  
    2019/2020 Salt Lake City, UT 2000m Relay4  
    2019/2020 Shanghai 2000m Relay4  
    2016/2017 Calgary, AB 5000m Relay5  
    2018/2019 Calgary, AB 500m5  
    2019/2020 Salt Lake City, UT 5000m Relay7  
    2018/2019 Calgary, AB 5000m Relay7  
    2018/2019 Dresden 1000m7  
    2018/2019 Salt Lake City, UT 1000m7  
    2018/2019 Salt Lake City, UT 2000m Relay8  
    2018/2019 Salt Lake City, UT 5000m Relay9  
    2018/2019 Dresden 500m9  
    2018/2019 Dresden 2000m Relay9  
    2016/2017 Minsk 5000m Relay10  
    2018/2019 Dresden 5000m Relay10  
    2019/2020 Shanghai 5000m Relay10  
    2016/2017 Salt Lake City, UT 5000m Relay11  
    2016/2017 Shanghai 5000m Relay12  
    2016/2017 Dresden 1500m14  
    2018/2019 Calgary, AB 1000m14  
    2016/2017 Minsk 1000m15  
    2018/2019 Salt Lake City, UT 500m15  
    2018/2019 World Cup Classification 500m16  
    2016/2017 Gangneung 500m16  
    2016/2017 Calgary, AB 500m17  
    2016/2017 Dresden 5000m Relay17  
    2016/2017 Minsk 500m17  
    2016/2017 Gangneung 1000m17  
    2018/2019 World Cup Classification 1000m20  
    2016/2017 Shanghai 1000m21  
    2016/2017 Salt Lake City, UT 500m21  
    2017/2018 Shanghai 500m23  
    2019/2020 Shanghai 500m23  
    2016/2017 Dresden 500m24  
    2017/2018 World Cup Classification 500m25  
    2016/2017 Shanghai 500m25  
    2019/2020 Salt Lake City, UT 500m27  
    2016/2017 Salt Lake City, UT 1500m28  
    2016/2017 Calgary, AB 500m29  
    2019/2020 World Cup Classification 500m43  
    2016/2017 World Cup Classification 500m45  
    2015/2016 World Cup Classification 500m45  
    2017/2018 World Cup Classification 1500m48  
    2016/2017 World Cup Classification 1500m51  
    2016/2017 World Cup Classification 1000m56  
    2019/2020 World Cup Classification 1500m60  
    2015/2016 World Cup Classification 1000m66