USS Names the 2025-26 Long Track Development Skaters of the Year
Name: Tariq Elattaoui
Age: 15
Club: Midway Speedskating Club
Coach: Steven Hartman
Who inspires you in speed skating?
Jordan Stolz because he is fast.
Where will you be in ten years?
On the national team and going to school to be a physical therapist.
What other sports do you play?
Track and field.
What are your other hobbies?
Biking and running
How did you get involved in speed skating?
Watching the Olympics
What would you consider your greatest accomplishment?
My greatest accomplishment is getting my AmCup time.
What is your favorite subject in school?
In school, my favorite subject is math.
What are your goals for speed skating in the next few years?
Making the Junior National Team
What is your favorite exercise during dryland training?
Dry skate!
What’s your favorite post-race snack?
A banana and cashews
Where is your favorite place to race?
My favorite place to race is the Oval in Utah.
What’s your craziest hidden talent?
I can dunk a basketball
Name: Aileen Oh
Age: 15
Club: Puget Sound Speed Skating Club
Coach: Coach Lee
Who inspires you in speed skating?
My teammate, Leah, because her hard work motivates me to be a better skater.
Where will you be in ten years?
In ten years, I see myself getting a masters degree at a graduate school and skating every national.
What other sports do you play?
I used to swim competitively and roller skate but now I just do skating.
What are your other hobbies?
I love shopping but only in person shopping and coloring.
How did you get involved in speed skating?
I got involved in speed skating through my brother who had joined because of his friends.
What would you consider your greatest accomplishment?
My greatest accomplishment is just all the improvement I’ve made each season.
What is your favorite subject in school?
My favorite subject in school is math.
What are your goals for speed skating in the next few years?
My goals the next few years is hopefully making the junior world team and the youth Olympics.
What is your favorite exercise during dryland training?
My favorite exercise during dryland is barbell squats and slideboard.
What’s your favorite post-race snack?
My favorite post-race snack are bananas and gummy bears.
Where is your favorite place to race?
My favorite place to race is Utah because I see most of my improvements from racing at Utah.
What’s your craziest hidden talent?
My craziest hidden talent is that I’m really good at harmonizing songs.
Anything else you'd like to share?
I’m thankful for my family and Coach Lee who support me throughout my journey.
