Huang Yu-Ting

www.facebook.com/uting.huang.hope/

Reason for choosing this sport	She followed her parents into the sport, and also wanted to compete at the Olympic Winter Games. "When I made the switch to ice, I told myself to cast aside all of my past glories as a roller sports skater. The moment I decided to become a speed skater, I became a nobody. I knew I was starting from the bottom, from zero. But that was a welcome challenge for me."
When and where did you begin this sport?	She began roller skating in 1990, and switched to speed skating in 2015.
Club / Team	Kaohsiung Speed Skating Team: Chinese Taipei
Name of coach	Huang Chin-Lung [father], TPE, from 1990

Other information	NATIONAL FIRST At the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang she became the first female athlete from Chinese Taipei to compete in speed skating at an Olympic Winter Games. "I think about it as if I'm blazing a trail for those behind me. I'm Chinese Taipei's first woman speed skater to make it to the Olympic Games, and it's always harder for those who go first. But I think if I'm able to help pave the way for my juniors, it would not be in vain." (OIS, 12 Feb 2018, 07 Feb 2018; SportsDeskOnline, 07 Feb 2018) FEDERATION SUPPORT She has been part of the International Skating Union [ISU] Development Transition Program that is based in Salt Lake City, UT, United States of America. The scheme aims to help athletes from ice hockey, roller speed skating and figure skating make the switch to speed skating and short track. (isu.org, 22 Dec 2017)
Memorable sporting achievement	Winning gold in the 1000m sprint in roller speed skating at the 2009 World Championships in Haining, People's Republic of China, claiming victory in the 500m sprint at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, People's Republic of China, and competing in speed skating at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang. (Athlete, 16 Nov 2018)
Awards and honours	She was flag bearer for Chinese Taipei at the closing ceremony of the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang. (OIS, 25 Feb 2018)
Injuries	She has broken her collarbone twice during her career. The first time was during a training session and the second was while competing in roller speed skating at the 2006 World Championships in Anyang, Republic of Korea. (Athlete, 16 Nov 2018; 10 Nov 2017)
Most influential person in career	Her father Huang Chin-Lung. (Athlete, 10 Feb 2018)
Hero / Idol	US speed skaters Chad Hedrick and Shani Davis. (Athlete, 10 Feb 2018, 10 Nov 2017)
Sporting philosophy / motto	"Never give up, just do it." (Athlete, 10 Nov 2017)
Hobbies	Drawing, travel, reading novels, taking photos. (Facebook page, 04 Oct 2018; Athlete, 10 Feb 2018)
Other sports	She has represented Chinese Taipei in both speed skating and short track at World Cup events. She has also competed in roller speed skating at the world championships, World Games, and Asian Games. (SportsDeskOnline, 04 Jan 2018)
Famous relatives	Her father Huang Chin-Lung has worked as a speed skating coach (Athlete, 10 Feb 2018; tw.appledaily.com, 19 Jul 2009)