The sound of students chanting, "USA! USA! USA! USA!" filled the halls of Oak Park and River Forest High School Friday morning at a sendoff for senior Emery Lehman, who leaves Monday for Sochi, Russia, where he'll compete on the U.S. Speed Skating team in the 2014 Olympic Winter Games.
"Every person that skates has dreams about the Olympics because that's the pinnacle of all speed skating—that's what everyone wants to do," Lehman said. "So as soon as I started to compete and (started) doing well—that's when I wanted to do it (go to the Olympics)."
Lehman, who started speed skating in 2009, said his mom was the person who gave him the nudge to start. He now trains in Milwaukee three to four days a week, while balancing school, service work and other sports.
"I've been doing it for three years so I've gotten a lot of practice, you've just got to use your time well," he said.
Lehman qualified for a spot on the U.S. Olympic speed skating team, finishing second in the 5,000-meter race at the trials in Utah, according to the Associated Press.
Lehman's father and grandfather were there to cheer him on, he told the AP. But he had to call his mom back home to deliver the news because she can't take watching him race.
Reflecting on the moment he realized he would compete in the Olympic Games, Lehman said, "It was a big sigh of relief... I was just really excited finally a dream come true. I get to (travel) and skate for the U.S. in the Olympics—It doesn't get much better than this."
----------
Help Patch reach 1,550 fans on Facebook and like our page!
Find out what's happening in Oak Park-River Forestwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
