Men
NZL
Peter Michael
NZL- Date of birth09 May 1989
- Height1830 CM
- ProfessionAthlete
- HometownNijeholtwolde
- Place of birthWellington
- Start skating / Club He competed in inline skating before taking up speed skating in 2014 in Inzell, Germany. / Canterbury Alpine Ice Speed Skating Club : New Zealand
- HobbiesWatching television series and movies, playing video games. (nzherald.co.nz, 13 Mar 2019)
- LanguagesEnglish
- Other nameMessy, Messy Mike (Athlete, 17 Jan 2021)
- CoachN/A
- ChoreographerN/A
- Former CoachN/A
- Practice low seasonN/A
- Practice high seasonN/A
- General Interest
- Sport Specific Information
In 2014 he was named Sportsperson of the Year in Kapiti, New Zealand. (kapitiindependentnews.net.nz, 11 Nov 2014)
"Never give up, keep pushing." (Athlete, 08 Nov 2017)
US boxer Muhammad Ali. (Athlete, 26 Jan 2017)
He became the first speed skater representing New Zealand to win a world championship medal by claiming bronze in the 5000m at the 2016 World Single Distances Championships in Gangneung, Republic of Korea. (SportsDeskOnline, 04 Nov 2021; olympics.nbcsports.com, 09 Feb 2017; isu.org, 04 Dec 2016)
He became the first New Zealand speed skater to finish on top of the podium at a World Cup event when he triumphed in the 5000m in 2016 in Astana, Kazakhstan. (SportsDeskOnline, 04 Nov 2021; olympics.nbcsports.com, 09 Feb 2017; isu.org, 04 Dec 2016)
He became the first New Zealand speed skater to finish on top of the podium at a World Cup event when he triumphed in the 5000m in 2016 in Astana, Kazakhstan. (SportsDeskOnline, 04 Nov 2021; olympics.nbcsports.com, 09 Feb 2017; isu.org, 04 Dec 2016)
He sustained an elbow injury in October 2021. (schaatsen.nl, 13 Oct 2021)
LIVING IN THE NETHERLANDS
He spends a large part of the year based in Heerenveen, Netherlands. "Of course I would rather live in New Zealand, close to the family. But that's a bit tricky for a long track guy, because there isn't a single 400m track in my country. My mother would cheer if I came home tomorrow. That won't happen yet. I have some stuff to do." (schaatsen.nl, 29 Aug 2021; nzherald.co.nz, 13 Mar 2019)
INLINE TO ICE
He first competed in inline skating but decided to switch to speed skating. "By my twenties I had done everything possible in inline [so] I tried ice - at the start I didn't really like it, it was quite difficult, trying a new sport, but I stuck through with it. The first day, I stepped on the ice and did one lap. I reckon it would have taken me four minutes just for that one lap. I couldn't stand up, it was very difficult. The next day, I managed five laps. I developed quickly after that, but, in saying that, I just went hard. A lot of people think, from the sidelines, that [inline and speed skating] are really similar, but they're honestly not. To do four minutes that first lap - I was coming off one of my best years in inline." (nzherald.co.nz, 13 Mar 2019; vice.com, 06 Dec 2017)
He spends a large part of the year based in Heerenveen, Netherlands. "Of course I would rather live in New Zealand, close to the family. But that's a bit tricky for a long track guy, because there isn't a single 400m track in my country. My mother would cheer if I came home tomorrow. That won't happen yet. I have some stuff to do." (schaatsen.nl, 29 Aug 2021; nzherald.co.nz, 13 Mar 2019)
INLINE TO ICE
He first competed in inline skating but decided to switch to speed skating. "By my twenties I had done everything possible in inline [so] I tried ice - at the start I didn't really like it, it was quite difficult, trying a new sport, but I stuck through with it. The first day, I stepped on the ice and did one lap. I reckon it would have taken me four minutes just for that one lap. I couldn't stand up, it was very difficult. The next day, I managed five laps. I developed quickly after that, but, in saying that, I just went hard. A lot of people think, from the sidelines, that [inline and speed skating] are really similar, but they're honestly not. To do four minutes that first lap - I was coming off one of my best years in inline." (nzherald.co.nz, 13 Mar 2019; vice.com, 06 Dec 2017)
He has represented New Zealand in roller speed skating, and won eight titles at the world championships between 2010 and 2016. (SportsDeskOnline, 30 Nov 2016; stuff.co.nz, 14 Sep 2016)
One of the factors that persuaded him to switch to speed skating was that there was more funding available in the sport than in inline skating. He was also inspired by New Zealand speed skater Shane Dobbin competing at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi.
