Giorgia Birkeland: From frozen lake with grandma to Olympic team pursuit

Minnesota speed skater Giorgia Birkeland reflects on her journey from skating on frozen Whipple Lake at her grandma's house to competing at the Beijing Olympics. Growing up in Minnesota with huge gloves and buck teeth, unable to bend her knees properly, young Giorgia could see fish swimming beneath the frozen lake as she learned to skate. The John Rose Oval's outdoor rink became where she really started developing her skills, falling in love with going fast and the "badass" feeling of suffering through cold Minnesota winters with her team.

Making the Olympic team was surreal—so surreal that nearly four years later, Giorgia still doesn't fully believe it happened. As the youngest on the team who grabbed the fifth and final spot, the Beijing experience was her first big international race, making it an extreme situation compounded by COVID restrictions and no crowds. But that pressure-cooker environment taught her valuable lessons about performing under pressure that she's applying to Olympic trials preparation this time around.

After breaking her foot last year and rolling her ankle again recently, Giorgia is managing injury concerns while focusing on her primary discipline: team pursuit. She explains that team pursuit involves three skaters who push each other for six laps, with the last person's time counting as the official finish. It's about strategy, teamwork, and going as fast as possible simultaneously—the most gratifying race because accomplishing something with teammates means so much more. Every time the US flag gets raised on the podium, Giorgia feels honored to represent America.

Giorgia credits Brittany Bowe's influence profoundly—she had pictures of Brittany above her bed as a kid, and training with her now makes her look up to Brittany even more. Working alongside someone she's admired forever has been incredible. Looking back at that little girl learning to skate on the frozen lake, Giorgia feels proud knowing she can now actually hit an outside edge properly. The technical aspects fascinate her—she's learned that being strong isn't enough if you're not technically proficient. Limitations in your hip, ankle, arm, or even big toe can cost you significantly because everything adds up when you're on such a fine line. It's crazy how much the little details matter.

0:00 - Introduction
0:27 - Skating on frozen Whipple Lake with grandma
1:04 - Going fast: It was kind of badass
1:38 - From fun hobby to professional
1:56 - Olympic rings above bed since age 13
2:16 - Brittany Bowe: Ideal role model
2:52 - Making Olympic team: Still doesn't believe it
3:13 - Beijing: Weird experience with COVID
3:36 - Using pressure from last Olympics
3:57 - Broke foot, managing injuries
4:21 - Team pursuit explained
5:19 - Honor of representing USA
5:52 - Climbing alpine ski jump for training
6:40 - That little girl would be so proud
7:12 - Technical aspects: Everything adds up