Milano Cortina Day 8 recap: Niall Treacy storms into his first Olympic final as 1500m night delivers drama in Milano Cortina
- 24 hours ago
- 3 min read
Niall Treacy produced one of the standout British Ice Skating moments of the Games so far, powering through a stacked men’s 1500m field to reach his first Olympic Final A - before an unfortunate late incident saw his medal bid ended by a post-race penalty.
Across three rounds on the same evening, Treacy showed exactly why the 1500m is short track’s ultimate test: speed, patience, positioning and nerve — all on a tight 111.12m oval where races can change in a single corner.
Results snapshot for Niall Treacy
Quarterfinal: 2nd place — 2:17.365 (advanced to semifinals)
Semifinal: 1st place — 2:16.816 (advanced to Final A)
Final A: 9th (PEN) following a crash in the closing stages
The format: why the 1500m is “one night, three races”
The men’s 1500m is a fast-moving event where the rounds come thick and fast - and the athletes who reach the final will typically skate quarterfinal, semifinal, then final all in one session.
A quick refresher on how it works:
Quarterfinals
The opening round is about survival and smart racing: avoid trouble, stay in the right positions, and do what you need to do to progress.
Semifinals
This is where the stakes jump. The pace sharpens, the tactics get more intense, and skaters fight for the inside line knowing that a single mistake can end a campaign.
Finals
Final A is the medal race
Final B determines the next placings
Short track rules are strict around contact, blocking, lane changes and interference - and penalties can be applied after review when officials determine an action impeded another skater.
Quarterfinal: calm in the chaos
Treacy opened his evening with a composed skate to take 2nd place in 2:17.365, navigating a tough heat where positioning and timing mattered as much as outright speed.
The 1500m is raced over 13.5 laps on the short track circuit, and that length creates a unique rhythm — the early laps can be cagey, before the race ignites into full-speed decision making.
By staying patient, avoiding trouble, and committing when it counted, Treacy booked his place in the semifinals.
Semifinal win: Treacy turns on the speed
If the quarterfinal was about control, the semifinal was about statement racing.
Treacy delivered exactly that - winning his semifinal handily in 2:16.816 to punch his ticket into the Olympic Final A. It was a performance full of confidence: strong positioning, decisive movement through the pack, and the kind of closing speed that wins big races.
Reaching an Olympic final in short track is a major milestone - and Treacy earned it the hard way, through the most tactical distance on the programme.
Final A: heartbreak after an incredible run
The men’s 1500m Final A delivered the drama short track is famous for - a race where medals can be won or lost in a fraction of a second.
In the closing stages, an unfortunate crash led to Treacy receiving a penalty, leaving him classified 9th. It was a painful end to a night where he had done everything right to put himself in the medal conversation.
The final itself was chaotic throughout the event, with officials’ decisions shaping the start list and outcomes — underlining just how fine the margins are at Olympic level.
What this means: a huge Olympic step forward
Even with the cruel ending, this was an enormous achievement for Treacy and for British short track:
He raced through a full evening of knockout rounds
He won a semifinal at the Olympic Games
He reached his first Olympic Final A, proving he belongs among the very best in the world
That is progress, experience, and belief — and it’s a performance that will fuel what comes next.
Still to come: the 500m
Treacy’s Olympic campaign isn’t finished yet - there is still the 500m to go, the fastest and most explosive distance on the short track programme, where reaction time and razor-sharp racing decide everything.
Keep an eye on the British Ice Skating Olympic Hub for the latest schedules, updates and coverage.
And if watching Olympic speed has you feeling inspired, explore Inspire To Skate - our campaign celebrating the Games and encouraging more people across the UK to discover skating for themselves.