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Joshua Kah

New Zealand

SportShort Track
FederationIDSTNZL12406200001
NOCNew Zealand
Born24 Jun 2000 in Mornington 
GenderMen
ResidenceMelbourne, VIC, AUS
LanguagesEnglish, German
Higher educationMechatronical Engineering - University of Melbourne: Australia
OccupationAthlete, Student
Personal Bests
EventRecordDateLocation 
Personal Bests
  Event RecordDateLocation 
    500m 41.746 03 Feb 2023 Dresden  
    1000m 1:27.653 04 Mar 2018 Tomaszów Mazowiecki  
    1500m 2:18.229 03 Feb 2023 Dresden  
    3000m 5:02.559 10 Dec 2017 Melbourne  
General Interest
General Interest
AmbitionsTo compete at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan-Cortina. (sport.unimelb.edu.au, 13 Dec 2022)  
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
Club / TeamCanterbury Alpine Ice Speed Skating Club: Christchurch, NZL  
General Interest
General Interest
Memorable sporting achievementCompeting at his first World Cup event at age 16 in Dresden, Germany, and racing against Russian short track skater Victor An. (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023)  
Other sportsAs a junior he was part of the state artistic gymnastics squad in Victoria, Australia. (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023; mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au, 31 May 2016)  
Famous relativesHis father Danny Kah represented Australia in speed skating at the Olympic Winter Games in 1988, 1992, and 1994. His mother Melissa Kah [nee Sandford] represented Australia in short track at the world championships in 1991 and 1993. His older brother Skyler has competed in short track for Australia at World Cup events. His uncle John Kah represented Australia in short track at the 1992 Olympic Winter Games in Albertville. His aunt Karen Gardiner-Kah competed for Australia in short track at the Olympic Winter Games in 1992 and 1994. His cousin Jamie Lee Kah is an Australian horse racing jockey. (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023, 02 Nov 2018; SportsDeskOnline, 09 Feb 2023; shorttrackonline.info, 04 Feb 2017; mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au, 31 May 2016)  
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
Reason for choosing this sportHis parents practised skating and got him involved in the sport. "It's a family sport. My parents, brother, uncle and aunt all competed internationally."  
General Interest
General Interest
Most influential person in careerHis father Danny. (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023)  
Hero / IdolKorean short track skater Kwak Yoon-Gy. (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023)  
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
Name of coachBenjamin Whiteside [national]  
When and where did you begin this sport?He began skating at age four in Oakleigh, VIC, Australia.  
General Interest
General Interest
NicknamesJosh, Peekay ["My mum calls me Peekay, it's from the book 'The Power of One'. Peekay had to fight against adversity to become the people's champion. Peekay is on my boot straps."] (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023; sport.unimelb.edu.au, 13 Dec 2022)  
Sporting philosophy / motto"Train smarter, not harder." (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023)  
Social Media
Social Media
www.facebook.com/josh.kah.1  
General Interest
General Interest
Hobbies3D printing, playing the piano. (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023)  
InjuriesIn 2017 he stabbed his knee with the blade of his own skate at a competition and needed about two weeks to recover. (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023)  
Other informationAUSTRALIA TO NEW ZEALAND
He represented Australia in short track earlier in his career, making his World Cup debut in 2017. He began competing for New Zealand in 2022 because the Australian short track programme had been suspended indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He has dual citizenship of both nations. "The last few years [speaking in 2022] have been an interesting challenge but I'm especially excited by the potential for a New Zealand relay. My addition to the team means we have four international level athletes now, and I think we might surprise a few other countries." (sport.unimelb.edu.au, 13 Dec 2022)

FURTHER EDUCATION
He has studied for a master's degree in mechatronic engineering at the University of Melbourne in Australia. (Athlete, 10 Feb 2023)
 
Championships results
Year Competition Event Rank  
Championships results
    2017/2018 World Junior Championships 3000m Relay6  
    2016/2017 World Junior Championships 3000m Relay9  
    2018/2019 World Junior Championships 3000m Relay12  
    2018/2019 World Junior Championships 1000m19  
    2017/2018 World Junior Championships Overall21  
    2018/2019 World Junior Championships 500m26  
    2018/2019 World Junior Championships 1500m27  
World Cups
Year Competition Event Rank  
World Cups
    2016/2017 Dresden 5000m Relay16  
    2023/2024 Dresden 500m17  
    2022/2023 Dresden 1500m21  
    2023/2024 Dresden 1500m29  
    2022/2023 Almaty 500m33  
    2022/2023 Dresden 500m33  
    2018/2019 Salt Lake City, UT 1000m33  
    2022/2023 Almaty 500m34  
    2018/2019 Salt Lake City, UT 1000m36  
    2022/2023 Almaty 1500m37  
    2018/2019 Dresden 1000m38  
    2023/2024 Gdansk 1000m40  
    2022/2023 Almaty 1000m41  
    2016/2017 Dresden 1500m42  
    2018/2019 Calgary, AB 1500m42  
    2018/2019 Calgary, AB 500m44  
    2023/2024 World Cup Classification 500m48  
    2023/2024 Gdansk 1500m49  
    2018/2019 Dresden 1000m49  
    2016/2017 Dresden 500m51  
    2022/2023 World Cup Classification 1500m58  
    2023/2024 World Cup Classification Overall87  
    2022/2023 World Cup Classification Overall88  
    2018/2019 World Cup Classification 1000m93  
    2018/2019 World Cup Classification 500m110  
    2018/2019 World Cup Classification 1500m111  
    2017/2018 World Cup Classification 1500m117  
    2016/2017 World Cup Classification 1500m135  
    2016/2017 World Cup Classification 500m143