SHORT TRACK: Producing your best performances under pressure is something all athletes aspire to do, and that is something 16-year-old Julia Moore has achieved at the Winter Youth Olympic Games.
The short track speed skater, who trains at the Ice House in Melbourne, completed her final individual event on Tuesday and in doing so dropped a huge 1.5 seconds off her pre-Lillehammer 500m personal best in placing 12th.
“My heat was a pretty tough heat but I skated through that and got a personal best (48.897, fourth),” Moore said.
“In my semi I came third and beat my time from the heat (48.196), so I was really happy about that. So I beat my best time before Lillehammer by a second and a half, which is great.”
In the D Final the competitor from Norway fell early so Julia was able to cruise at the front to the delight of the school class who were there cheering for her.
“Overall it was a really positive day I’m happy with it. I just want to keep skating and beating my times and get better. I’ve got a taste for it now and I’m pumped.”
The noise in the Gjovik Olympic Cavern Hall was fantastic with the hundreds of kids with signs and dressed in the colours of the countries competing.
“The atmosphere was amazing today with all the school kids screaming and my family are here. It’s so loud when you are skating and you really feel like it is pushing you along. It’s awesome.”
On Sunday Moore competed in the 1000m and was a little overwhelmed early on.
“It felt so weird before the first race seeing myself on the big screen and not really knowing what to do as this is my first international comp, and everyone else has done Junior Worlds or Junior World Cups.
“I had a plan to go to the front but I freaked out on the line and then sat at the back and was fourth (1:45.694).
In the C Final she managed to execute her race plan to finish 12th overall.
“After I got the first race out of the way I felt great and in the second race I managed to stick to the plan and go to the front and make them go around. I ended up third but with a big PB (1:40.993).”
Australian Coach Scott Weekes is happy with how she handled the big occasion.
“She did awesome today. She really went out there aggressively and got a big PB. We’re both thrilled with that result. You can’t ask for much more than that.”
Moore was part of the Opening Ceremony when she gave a small statement about why she loves the YOG, as the representative from Oceania.
So after all the hard work, did the Youth Olympics live up to the expectations?
“Oh yes, 100 times better. I couldn’t have expected it to be this good. I’m really loving it. I just feel so happy to be here and now I get to cheer on my teammates before the mixed relay on Saturday.”
Andrew Reid
olympics.com.au
