Niall Treacy Makes History with World Championship Bronze in Montréal

Niall Treacy delivered a historic performance for British Ice Skating by claiming bronze in the 1000m at the ISU CNSG Short Track World Championships 2026 in Montreal, securing Great Britain’s first World Championship medal since 2017 and the nation’s first men’s individual World Championship medal in 30 years.

© International Skating Union

The two-time Olympian, who has already established himself as a European and ISU World Tour medallist, produced a composed and confident performance in the 1000m A Final to secure his place on the world podium against the very best short track skaters on the planet.

Momentum Building in Montréal

Treacy’s historic medal capped an impressive weekend of racing in Montréal.

Just 24 hours earlier, the British skater had reached the 1500m A Final, his first ever final at the World Championships, finishing 5th in the world after controlling much of the race against a stacked international field.

That performance provided the momentum heading into the 1000m, where Treacy returned to the ice with determination and confidence to deliver a landmark result for British short track.

A Landmark Moment for the Programme & Niall Treacy

Following the race, Jon Eley, British Ice Skating Head of Performance, reflected on the significance of the achievement for the programme:

"This bronze medal means a huge amount to everyone involved in the programme. To see Niall deliver on the world stage like that, in the 1000m and to bring home the first individual men’s World Championship medal in over 30 years is incredibly special.

It’s a reflection of the hard work and belief from Niall, the coaching team, the support staff, and everyone who has contributed to building this programme over the last Olympic cycle.Niall showed real composure and courage in that race, and he absolutely earned that place on the podium. Moments like this are why we do what we do. It’s a proud day for the whole team and a fantastic way to finish the final race of the Olympic cycle. We’re excited about what this means for the future."

A Medal Years in the Making

© International Skating Union

For Treacy, the result represents the culmination of years of belief that he could compete with the very best in the world.

Speaking after the race, he reflected on the journey to finally standing on a World Championship podium:

"Yeah, I think it's just like a culmination of like years of hard work. Me and my coach, every time we come out here, like, say that we can compete with these guys, and for the past few competitions, World Tour, Euros, and the Olympics, we've made A-finals, but didn't get the medal.And then even yesterday, making the A-final and coming up a little bit short. It was pretty heartbreaking, but to finally have one in my favourite distance is just huge. Now I'll have a World Championship medal for the rest of my life."

Treacy’s breakthrough podium provides a fitting conclusion to an incredible Olympic season for British short track speed skating, while also signalling exciting potential for the next Olympic cycle.

For Treacy and the British Ice Skating programme, the bronze medal in Montréal represents more than just a historic milestone - it is a powerful statement of the progress made and the ambitions still ahead.