Marsicano is new force in speed skating

March 15, 2009 - There's a new kid on the block in U.S. Speed Skating. 

At just the right moment, when the sport is cresting in the world spotlight, a slightly built and fresh-faced Trevor Marsicano jumped onto the world stage and made his mark.

The 5-8 native of Ballston Spa, N.Y. (population 5,500) won four medals in a stretch of four days at the World Single Distance Championships at the Speedskating Oval in Richmond, B.C., Canada, the site of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.  It was the best performance ever for a U.S. skater at the event. 

He took a gold in the 1000 meters, silver in the 1500, and bronzes in the 5000 and the team pursuit.    The team pursuit bronze, with teammates Brian Hansen and Ryan Bedford, was the first U.S.medal in the event in World Championship competition. 

With Shani Davis' gold in the 1500 and bronze in the 1000, the U.S. took home six medals from the World Championships.

This successful championship was unlike another one he experienced as a 15-year old  in a short-track speedskating event in 2004 when another skater's blade slashed his inside right thigh and he lost almost half his blood supply before doctors stopped the flow. 

It took him a year to get back to full strength.  In 2007 he committed full time to long track.

At the World Cup a week ago in Kearns, Utah, Trevor held the world record in the 1000 for 22 minutes to lead the pack.  That's until Davis, gliding on the fast ice of the home of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, took control in the final pairing of the day to set a new world standard and take the title over Trevor who was second.

 "I always look up to him," Trevor said of his teammate. "He's a great guy to be around and being on the podium with him was amazing. He's still the King"

Davis spoke about his fast rising teammate after the final event of the season.  "Trevor is young and I don't know what altitude he'll reach.  But, right now he has taken off to a new level.  He's doing great things for his age."

On recapping his experiences and success at the World Single Distance championships and his sudden rise among the world's best skaters:

"This is going to take a few weeks to hit me.  I didn't expect it...it kind of snuck up on me to do this well.  But, for the Olympics it helps me to know I've done it before on this ice.  I can visualize things for next year.  I want to do this again."