In 2021, Conor McDermott-Mostowy \u02bc24 was gearing up for the ISU Speed Skating World Championships in the Netherlands\u2014and, hopefully, the 2022 Olympics beyond that\u2014when norovirus derailed everything. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then came 2024. After a record-breaking 1000-meter race at the World Cup in January\u2014climbing to the top five, a personal best by a wide margin\u2014he headed to the World Championships in Canada, riding high. That year, he says, \u201cprobably had my last really great races\u201d for a while, as health issues the following year kept him from competing at his usual level. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But this year has brought a huge turnaround\u2014after qualifying in early January, Conor is headed to the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m doing much better than I was two years ago,\u201d he says. \u201cI like where we\u2019re headed, going into the games.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conor says he actually gets more nervous at domestic qualification competitions than international competitions. Even as a pro with four World Cups under his belt this season and two previous Olympic trials, the Milwaukee qualifiers still had him on edge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI was so anxious before the thousand [meter race],\u201d Conor admits. \u201cI knew that if I was going to go to the Olympics, that would be my surefire way to do it.\u201d Missing the 2022 Olympics four years ago\u2014finishing just one spot off\u2014only added to the stress. \u201cBut I don\u2019t know\u2014sometimes stress is good,\u201d he says. \u201cIt ended up being one of my best races ever, so it was quite a relief.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Between now and Milan, there\u2019s not much time to relax. Conor is headed to Germany first for another World Cup\u2014more for refining technique than any new medals. \u201cAt this point in the season, you\u2019re not really chasing gains anymore,\u201d he explains. \u201cThe race in Germany is more about cleaning up our technical performance, maintaining physiological gains, and being perfectly prepped for the games.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When we last spoke to Conor in 2024, the 2026 Games came up then too\u2014in a surprising way. The then-senior had floated the idea of potentially retiring from skating afterward, if he made it. Now? \u201cI\u2019m playing it by ear at the moment,\u201d he says. \u201cI would love to keep skating, but I\u2019ve got a lot of plans for my life.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The neuroscience major graduated after a nontraditional college journey, fitting classes in around his skating career. He still plans to attend medical school eventually, once he finishes up the few classes he missed during undergrad travels. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whatever his post-Olympic plans, Conor intends to enjoy his time in Italy. \u201cI\u2019m very excited to explore Milan, and all the fun perks that come with being in the Olympic Village,\u201d he says. \u201cI\u2019m also going to go on the hunt for some really good coffee!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But, of course, he\u2019s most excited about the games themselves. \u201cCompeting on the Olympic stage will be incredible,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019ll be the most eyes, the most people I\u2019ll ever compete in front of.\u201d Regardless of the outcome, he plans to celebrate with some fantastic Italian wine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n