Graeme Fish

Reason for choosing this sport

"My parents thought it would be a better fit than ice hockey. It was cheaper and my dad skated when he was younger."

Hero / Idol

Canadian speed skater Justin Warsylewicz. (Athlete, 10 Feb 2023)

Name of coach	Bart Schouten [national], NED; William Dutton [national], CAN
When and where did you begin this sport?	He began speed skating at age three in Moose Jaw, SK, Canada, and started competing at age five. He initially preferred short track until he realised his endurance abilities were better suited to long track.

Sporting philosophy / motto

"If I don't throw up after a race, it means I didn't go all out. I like pain. I love skating. And for me, the longer the better. The longer you get to skate the better. It kind of drives me. I like pain for some reason. It might be a bit weird, but you have to be able to skate through the pain and enjoy it a little bit." (ca.sports.yahoo.com, 13 Feb 2022; cjme.com, 31 Jan 2022)

twitter.com/GFish_33

Awards and honours

He received the 2020 Jeremy Wotherspoon Award from Speed Skating Canada. The award recognises the Canadian long track male athlete of the year. (speedskating.ca, 04 Sep 2020)

Training Regime

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

instagram.com/speedskatingfish/

Injuries	In November 2021 he tested positive for the COVID-19 virus at the World Cup event in Stavanger, Norway. He was required to remain in Norway for a period of quarantine and missed the following World Cup event in Salt Lake City, UT, United States of America, as a result. (schaatsen.nl, 06 Dec 2021)
Memorable sporting achievement	Setting a world record in the 10,000m at the 2020 World Single Distances Championships in Salt Lake City, UT, United States of America. (Athlete, 10 Feb 2023)
Ambitions	To compete at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan-Cortina. (westcentralonline.com, 03 Mar 2022)
Other information	WORLD RECORD, COVID AND BEIJING He came to prominence in the 2019/20 season when he set a new world record in the 10,000m [that has since been beaten] as he won gold at the 2020 World Single Distances Championships in Salt Lake City, UT, United States of America. His time of 12:33.86s took almost 2.5 seconds off the previous mark set in 2015 by his Canadian teammate, Ted-Jan Bloemen. Both Fish and Bloemen were considered medal contenders at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, but finished sixth and eighth, respectively. Fish had contracted COVID-19 less than three months prior to the Games and struggled to recover in time. "For me it [sixth place] was the best I could have done today. I mean, two months ago I had COVID. Yeah, it was kind of tough to come back from there. But it was fun out there. I'm at the Olympics and it's a dream come true." (nationalpost.com, 11 Feb 2022; cbc.ca, 10 Feb 2022; olympic.ca, 01 Jan 2022)

Club / Team

Moose Jaw Speed Skating Club: Canada

Most influential person in career	Canadian speed skater Connor Howe. (Athlete, 10 Feb 2023)
Nicknames	Fishy-Fish (Athlete, 10 Feb 2023)