History is set to be made at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics when Midlands brothers Farrell and Niall Treacy hit the ice in China.
Date back to Henley-in-Arden,Warwickshire, the West Midlands Both qualified for Team GB in a three-man short track speed skating squad.
This comes four years after Farrell became the first Treacy to represent the family at the Winter Olympics.
While working together in the team event, the two will actually compete in the 1000m.
During a World Cup event in Tokyo last year, the brothers got too close when they collided and obliterated each other.
However, there will be no such problems in the 1500m as Farrell is the only member of his family to compete.
Speaking on the achievement of representing his country alongside Niall, Farrell said: “It’s an incredible achievement for the whole family, we’re really excited about it. It will be special to see two Treacys on the entry list.”
“The last time we rode together in the ranked finals, he obliterated me … he hit a block and went down and knocked me out.” he told Team GB.
Farrell contract
Making his debut at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics four years ago, aged just 22, Farrell made it through the 1000m heats and reached the quarterfinals, finishing 14th overall.
Growing up in Warwickshire, he was first introduced to short track speed skating by a friend at school.
After developing his skills on the ice, he reached numerous quarterfinals on the circuit before being selected for his first games.
Although Farrell won bronze with the mixed relay at a World Championships in Dresden, Germany in the 2018/19 season, his preparation for Beijing 2022 was marred by injuries.
To improve his performances, Farrell relocated to the United States to develop further under coach Stephen Gough, whom he describes as a game changer.
An improvement in form and fitness followed, allowing Farrell to qualify for his second games alongside his brother.
He is currently combining training and international competitions with a master’s degree in business administration and sports De Montfort University.
On the prospect of facing his siblings at the Winter Olympics, Farrell, a Birmingham City fan, said: “The way the draw is done usually keeps countries apart so we would only do it if we could could reach the finals or semi-finals. If we’re there it would be a fantastic achievement and unbelievable.”
Niall Treacy
Beijing 2022 will be the 21-year-old’s first matches and it won’t just be Niall’s nerves.
explained Niall : “My mom hates to see us racing normally let alone when we compete because she thinks there is too much drama and she gets too nervous.”
“She can’t stand the thought of us competing against each other. She detests it.”
And there could be another Treacy climbing the ranks to Olympic glory. A third brother, Ethan, is currently competing and has previously represented Great Britain.
Niall is fulfilling a childhood dream he describes as “13 years in the making.” The debutante quickly rose through the British junior ranks and soon became Team GB’s flag bearer at the 2017 Youth Olympic Festival in Erzurum, Turkey.
Niall has been training at the National Ice Center in Nottingham for years and has become a regular World Cup player.
He took a stunning fourth place finish in Hungary last year with a superb performance that got him on the starting line-up for Team GB in Beijing.
You can check when the brothers will be racing at the official race Olympic website here.