Treacy’s 1000m hopes ended by late crash - but Team GB short track star has more races to come

Niall Treacy’s Milano Cortina 2026 campaign got underway in dramatic fashion on Tuesday, with the Team GB short track speed skater showing exactly why he’s regarded as one of Britain’s leading names on the international circuit in the men’s 1000m.

A flying start in the heats for Team GB

Lining up in the men’s 1000m heats, Treacy made an aggressive, confident opening statement. The Brit edged into the lead early, taking control of the pace and putting himself in a strong position as the race settled into the tactical rhythm that makes the 1000m one of short track’s most unpredictable distances.

As the heat developed, Canada’s Steven Dubois - one of the sport’s biggest names and ranked 4th in the world in the 1000m distance - moved up in the pack. Contact followed on the corner, with an unfortunate crash ending Treacy’s race early. Niall finished 4th in the heat and did not progress to the quarter-finals.

Why Treacy’s calibre matters

While the result wasn’t the outcome Treacy and Team GB were chasing, the performance before the crash was a reminder of his pedigree. A European medallist and World Cup medallist, Treacy has consistently proven he can compete at the very front of the sport - and his intent in the opening stages of the race showed exactly that.

Still more to come

Short track is never predictable - but the story doesn’t end here. Treacy’s Olympic schedule continues, with the 500m and 1500m still to come in the days ahead.

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We go again, Niall. 👊🔥