(Image source from: www.americanbazaaronline.com)

An Indian American school girl Shreya Arun bagged the Gold at the speedskating contest, held at the Prince William Ice Center in Woodbridge, Virginia, on February 16 and 17.

The 16-year-old girl earlier did her school and community proud when she finished in first place in the regional North East Short Track (NEST) competition.

This time, it was not a small win for the schoolgirl, as the two-day event featured top-ranked speedskaters from across the Northeastern, Mid-Atlantic and Midwestern states, such as Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington, D.C., as well as Canada.

The participating skaters competed in four distances: 500 meters, 777 meters, 1000 meters, and 1500 meters.

Short track speedskating is an Olympic sport in which athletes race on a 111.1-meter track at speeds of up to 40 miles per hour. It is also now and then referred to as “NASCAR on ice,” and is known for its exhilarating intensity and grace.

To be a perfectionist, Arun trains every day, all year round, traveling to Montgomery County, Maryland, four times every week for three-hour sessions with the United Capital Blades Speedskating Club. The skater also travels to competitions as far as Salt Lake City, Utah.

“Training and traveling take a lot of time out of my day, but I couldn’t live without skating. It’s a big part of who I am and I want to work hard and do my best,” says Arun.

Having started speedskating seven years ago, Arun is a veteran of the short track racing circuit. “The lessons I learn from each race help me improve and compete harder. Over time, I’ve gained confidence in myself and become a better skater. This season is one of my best so far,” she says.

In March, Arun will be competing in the Heartland Racing Series in Champaign, Illinois, and at the United States National Championships in Verona, Wisconsin.

-Sowmya Sangam