Niall Treacy: Prepared for the Challenge of Milano-Cortina 2026

Speaking ahead of competition, Niall reflected on the journey that brought him back to the Olympic stage, the lessons learned since Beijing and the ambitions driving him in Italy.

Niall said: “It’s making sure my process is right and not getting too ahead of myself.

“Obviously everyone goes for a medal, that would be phenomenal, but it’s about skating with what I’ve got and doing my best on the day.”

Returning to the Olympic stage after his debut in Beijing, the TeamGB athlete is focused on delivering when it matters most.

Despite the scale of the occasion, Treacy has learned to keep things in perspective.

“Going into Beijing, I realised physically I was strong enough to compete at this level.

“But over the past four years, it’s been about being not just strong enough, but smart enough, developing tactics and becoming a wiser skater.”

Despite the scale of the occasion, Treacy has learned to keep things in perspective.

“The biggest thing I came away with is that it’s just another competition,” he said.

“You’re racing the same people that you’ve raced all the time, they know your strengths, you know theirs.”

Milano-Cortina will also offer something his first Olympics could not, the presence of family and friends in the stands.

“My parents have seen a few races, but my oldest brother has never really seen me compete live.

“To have them all there, as well as my fiancée and her family, will be super special.”

“I love when there’s a big crowd.

"Especially if you’re feeling a bit tired, you go out and the crowd’s going crazy, it really gives me a lot of energy.”

Niall’s Olympic ambition is the product of a journey that began with a simple twist of fate.

“Growing up, my family was always super sporty, we always did football, tennis and sports camps in the summer.”

His introduction to the sport came when his older brother “missed the bus home from school one day” and was offered a lift, “but you’ve got to come training first.”

Niall said, “He went, he loved it.

“I’m the youngest of all four of us, so I just did what the older brothers do.”

Starting on the ice at eight years old, he quickly progressed through domestic competitions before stepping onto the international circuit.

“It was the speed and the rush of it, I hadn’t really experienced that in the sports that I was doing,” he said. “I loved the complexity of skating. It’s not something that you just get and it’s done. Even now, I’m still reinforcing the basics.”

A breakthrough followed in 2017 when Treacy was selected for the European Youth Olympic Festival.

“That was the first time that I was like, I’m not just skating for myself anymore. You’re invited to a team.

“After that, the goal obviously was going to the Games.”

That ambition became reality at Beijing 2022.

“That was super special, a dream come true,” he said. “Walking down the ramp at the opening ceremony and seeing the Olympic rings and ‘Great Britain’ was by far something I’ll take away forever.”

Throughout his journey, SportsAid has played a significant role in helping him pursue elite sport.

“It’s been huge,” he said.

“Short track isn’t the most accessible sport,you need the equipment and the ice time, so that financial backing was massive.”

“But more than that, all the stuff around it, the nutrition guidance and psychological guidance, set me up for my transition to becoming a full-time athlete a whole lot easier.”

The support also helped ease the burden on his family, with three brothers competing in the sport.

“My mum and dad would probably be able to say a lot more amazing things,” he said. “To have SportsAid help all three of us at some point in time was huge.”

Recognition from outside the sport proved equally powerful.

“To have somebody else believe in you definitely gives you a little bit more of a boost.”

“For the past eight years, we’ve been effectively self-funded, paying for competitions, paying for training.

“We go up against teams whose budgets are in the millions. It can be a bit daunting, but we’ve proved we’re not out of place.”

Now, representing Team GB once again, the magnitude of the moment is not lost on him.

Niall concluded: “It’s hard to describe.

“When you go out there, you are representing the whole nation. It’s not just yourself anymore.”

“You grow up watching Olympians on TV and now I can’t believe I’m in that position.