Kiwi speed skater Peter Michael is bracing himself for a new challenge, as he eyes Winter Olympic redemption at Beijing.
Michael has been confirmed as the latest member of the NZ team for next month's Games and after coming painfully close to a medal in 2018, the 32-year-old doesn't lack motivation to go better this year.
Michael has switched to a new discipline entirely, ditching his preferred 5000m for the shorter 1500m.
"The 1500 is pretty much bang up to 100 miles an hour as fast as you can and then holding it, so that's been a really difficult point for me," Michael tells Newshub.
Michael is also the first reserve for the 10,000m race, where he'll need a qualified athlete to withdraw for a chance to line up at the start.
But whether over 10,000 or 1500m, Michael feels more and more complete on the ice with each race.
"Each World Cup was better and better," he says. "I started off a bit slow actually, but it's started flowing a lot better now."
Michael had to swallow the bitter pill of finishing fourth in both the team pursuit and 5000m in 2018, which he's using as motivation for Beijing.
"When it gets to that tough point in training, or it's raining outside and I have to ride the bike, that plays on my mind, so I try and use that to my advantage."
And as for arguably the most crucial piece of Michael's Winter Olympic campaign - his burgeoning mullet - the Kiwi is keeping his cards close to his chest.
"Will we see the mullet back?" he laughs. "I can't write it off or confirm."
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