CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WAND) - Champaign Regional Speedskating has eyes glued to the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.
The team has sent multiple skaters to the Olympics in the past, most notably, Bonnie Blair, who won five gold medals across three different games from 1988-94.
More recently, former members Kathryn Reutter won silver and bronze in 2010, and Jonathan Kuck competed in 2010 and 2014.
"It is a small sport," said coach Ryan Hastings. "I think nationwide, there's about 2,000 speedskaters that are registered with our national governing body, U.S. Speedskating, so every four years we see a big bump in interest."
Roman Hastings, 15, is already competing at a high level.
"I just got back from Utah, which is the Junior World Cup Qualifier, which is on the size of a 400m track," he said. "I mean, I was competing against the best juniors in the country in long track, which is pretty intimidating the first time you do that. I just want to get better, and I just want to make it as far as I can in this sport."
The team practices every Wednesday night at the University of Illinois' Ice Arena, dreaming of their own Olympic moments.
"You know, you always wonder who is going to be the next one. And we're due," Ryan Hastings said. "I think any of them really have a chance, you just never really know."
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