Darius Eshete

Reason for choosing this sport

He had wanted to practise speed skating since he had first seen the sport in Europe when he was age seven. "I dreamed of speed skating ever since I first saw marathon skating on Dutch TV during my first overseas trip as a seven-year-old in 1992. Many years later, I found myself in Canada on a failed working holiday trip with my partner at the time. And I thought to myself, 'Do I go back to Australia, or stay in Canada and follow a pipe dream?'"

Hobbies	Urban inline skating, surfing. (Athlete, 02 Dec 2021)
Superstitions / Rituals / Beliefs	"Consuming blended arugula [rocket] pre-race when it's available." (Athlete, 02 Dec 2021)
Memorable sporting achievement	Representing Australia at World Cup events. (Athlete, 02 Dec 2021)
Most influential person in career	Australian speed skaters Daniel Greig and Josh Capponi. (Athlete, 02 Dec 2021)
Hero / Idol	US speed skaters Shani Davis and Joey Mantia. (Athlete, 02 Dec 2021)
Injuries	He suffered a lower back injury in June 2019. The injury was still causing him problems in 2022. (Instagram profile, 22 Nov 2022; Athlete, 02 Dec 2021) In May 2019 he suffered a torn right hamstring and needed about four months to recover. (Athlete, 02 Dec 2021) In 2017 he tore the meniscus in his left knee and needed about eight weeks to recover. (Athlete, 02 Dec 2021) In 2015 he suffered a left ankle sprain that affected the mobility of the joint. "It still affects my skating position today [in 2021]". (Athlete, 02 Dec 2021) He spent seven weeks in hospital at age nine after he was involved in a car accident that resulted in a compound fracture to his left leg [femur] and a fracture to his left arm [ulna]. He also sustained a fractured skull and a concussion that saw him placed into an induced coma. (Athlete, 02 Dec 2021; Instagram profile, 11 Nov 2019)
Ambitions	To compete at the Olympic Winter Games, and to compete in the 5000m on the World Cup circuit. (Athlete, 02 Dec 2021; Instagram profile, 11 Nov 2019)

When and where did you begin this sport?

He began speed skating at age 29 in Calgary, AB, Canada.

Sporting philosophy / motto	"Do it while you can before you can't." (Athlete, 02 Dec 2021)
Other information	LATE STARTER He decided to take up speed skating at age 29. "[In 2014] I decided I wanted to go to World Cups and have a shot maybe at Olympics [by] starting speed skating at 29 going on 30. Trying to make ends meet, driving an 800-dollar car, not being able to see my mother, sister and other family and mates who have supported me through thick and thin. Everybody moves on with life - family, kids - [while] I'm still doing circles on ice." (Instagram profile, 11 Nov 2019) FROM AUSTRALIA TO CANADA He has travelled regularly between Australia and Canada, and gained permanent residence in Canada in May 2019. The process took two years, including more than a year where he was unable to work legally and had to volunteer in order to maintain his professional contacts. "Now why am I in Canada? Oh yeah, that skating thing. So now, with access to medical health cover, I can actually see a doctor, dentist when I need to, see a physio regularly and be able to fund the ultimate goal of [speed skating at major events]. Times have certainly been challenging to say the least, and I was going to throw the towel in many times." (abc.net.au, 29 May 2023; Instagram profile, 28 May 2019) OCCUPATION He has worked as a personal trainer at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in Calgary, AB, Canada. He has also worked as an exercise physiologist for organisations as well as private clients in both Canada and Australia, and as a tennis coach. (LinkedIn profile, 01 Feb 2022; Facebook profile, 06 Mar 2021) FURTHER EDUCATION He has completed postgraduate studies in exercise physiology at Edith Cowan University in Perth, WA, Australia. (LinkedIn profile, 01 Feb 2022)

www.facebook.com/darius.eshete
twitter.com/D_eshete

Nicknames

D, Dars (Athlete, 02 Dec 2021)