Glenview Skater First To Make Olympic Short Track Team

GLENVIEW, IL — A Glenview native is returning to the Olympic Games after coming out on top at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for short track skating. Lana Gehring, 27, qualified after winning both 1500-meter events Friday in Kearns, Utah. She will be making her second Olympic appearance in PyeongChang in February, having won a bronze medal with the women's relay team back in 2010.

This time, she says, she's in better shape and better prepared.

"I was only 19. So coming in here I'm a little more confident in how I skate," Gehring said after qualifying. "I'm just happy that that shined through today."

Gehring also won Sunday's 1000-meter race and the most overall points over the three days of competition.

Plus, with her wins in three of the six women's finals, Gehring extended a streak for the state. Illinois speed skaters have represented U.S. at every Winter Games since 1924, according to US Speedskating.

“I couldn’t be more pleased with my performance," Gehring said. "It’s Olympic Trials, anything can happen...It’s always a surprise, and you are really grateful and thankful for the performances you do have."

Gehring briefly retired from speed skating after missing out on the 2014 Olympics. She tried skating long track but soon returned to the more chaotic smaller courses.

"I really enjoyed short track, training with our team and stuff, so I decided to stay" she said. "I was going to switch over but things were going pretty well, so I stuck it out."

That choice appears to have been rewarded, as Gehring will compete alongside long track, short track and figure skaters at the 12,000-seat Gangneung Ice Arena during the 2018 Winter Games, which will run from Feb. 9-25 in South Korea.

_{Top photo: Lana Gehring during a medal ceremony following the women's 1500-meters at the U.S. Olympic short track speedskating trials Friday, Dec. 15, 2017, in Kearns, Utah. | AP Photo | Rick Bowmer}