Montgomery Teen to Compete at International Winter Sports Event

Benjamin Oh of Montgomery County will represent the United States in short track speedskating at the 2015 Winter Universiade in Granada, Spain.

Oh, a native of Burtonsville and a freshman at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, trains with the United Capital Blades Speedskating Club at the Wheaton Ice Arena and Rockville Ice Arena.

He is the 2014 National Champion in short track speedskating for his age group.

The 27th FISU Winter Games run from Feb. 4 to 14, with short track speed skating events set for Feb. 11-13.

“It’s a great honor to represent the US at the Winter Universiade. I look forward to the competition and to meeting skaters from other countries,” said Oh. “It is exciting to join the legacy of these international student championships.”

In high school, while emerging as a nationally-ranked speed skater, Oh also played defense for the DC Stars hockey team of the Maryland Student Hockey League and the Montgomery Blue Devils. He continues to play hockey in college as one of a few freshmen on University of Pennsylvania’s men’s hockey team.

“The ice rink is like a second home for me,” Oh said in a news release. “I get a lot of energy from being on the ice. I enjoy the individual aspects of competitive short track speedskating as much as I enjoy the team dynamics and camaraderie of hockey.”

Oh is the only member of the 12-member short track speedskating squad who doesn’t train full-time at the national training facility in Salt Lake City. As such, he isn’t eligible for travel money to Granada. The team was selected on Jan. 21, giving him little time to raise money. He mounted an online campaign and raised more than he needs to get to the games.

“I am a bit overwhelmed by the support I’m getting. I am grateful to everyone for their financial and moral support. I am taking all of your messages with me to Granada,” said Oh.

The fundraiser on the GoFundMe website has brought in about $4,100; he needed $3,500 to make the trip. He says on the site that if enough money is raised, his mother will accompany him to Spain.

About the Winter Universiade

The Winter Universiade is a biennial international multi-sport event open to competitors who are at least 17 and less than 28 years old. Participants must be full-time students at a post-secondary institution (university, college, CEGEP) or have graduated from a post-secondary institution in the year preceding the event.

The Granada Universiade will feature nine compulsory sports and one optional sport.

Compulsory sports: alpine skiing, biathlon, ice hockey, curling, nordic skiing, short track speed skating, figure skating, synchronized skating, snowboarding. Optional sport: freestyle skiing.

»Photo courtesy of United Capital Blades Speedskating Club.