Olympic medals are one thing. But making the coach’s Instagram feed is #goals for Olympic hopefuls on the U.S. Long Track Speedskating Team. Coach Ryan Shimabukuro has a three-word mantra for his athletes. And, it’s not go for gold. It’s puke and rally. Speedskating has been an Olympic sport for more than 100 years. Long track skaters race on a 400m ice track. They wear “clap skates,” taking long strides, and traveling long distances up to 10,000 meters. The 2026 Milan-Cortina Games will be Coach Shimabukuro’s sixth as an Olympic coach.”The lactate levels that speedskaters attain are extremely high,” he said. “Some of them end up puking during certain workouts. They have to rally and finish the workout.”Hence, puke and rally.The coach has turned the effort of hurling after hurling oneself across a finish line into an art form. He sneaks pics and videos of his athletes puking and then posts his favorites on his Instagram feed. “If somebody is having a tough day on ice, you know it’s going to get recorded,” said Casey Dawson, a 2022 Olympic bronze medalist. “Be prepared.”Athletes described making the coach’s Instagram feed a badge of honor, dispelling the myth that their sport is easy.”It shows the tough side of long track speedskating. You know, some people see it as like, oh, it’s not that hard, but they see, you know, Ryan’s story about somebody huddled over a trash can, and you see that as well,” Dawson said.”He hasn’t gotten me yet. That day is still to come,” said Zach Stoppelmoor, an Olympic hopeful.Coach Shimabukuro said the keyword is “yet.” His #pukeandrally pics have quite the international following. “When we’re at international competitions, people in the stands will send me videos of athletes hovered over a trash can,” Shimabukuro said. “So I got my spies out there. No one’s safe.”The U.S. Olympic Long Track speedskating trials take place from Jan. 2 – 5 at the Utah Olympic Oval. Expect incredible competition, and don’t forget to follow Coach Shimabukuro on Instagram for his highlights of the competition.
Olympic medals are one thing. But making the coach’s Instagram feed is #goals for Olympic hopefuls on the U.S. Long Track Speedskating Team.
Coach Ryan Shimabukuro has a three-word mantra for his athletes. And, it’s not go for gold.
It’s puke and rally.
Speedskating has been an Olympic sport for more than 100 years. Long track skaters race on a 400m ice track. They wear “clap skates,” taking long strides, and traveling long distances up to 10,000 meters.
The 2026 Milan-Cortina Games will be Coach Shimabukuro’s sixth as an Olympic coach.
“The lactate levels that speedskaters attain are extremely high,” he said. “Some of them end up puking during certain workouts. They have to rally and finish the workout.”
Hence, puke and rally.
The coach has turned the effort of hurling after hurling oneself across a finish line into an art form. He sneaks pics and videos of his athletes puking and then posts his favorites on his Instagram feed.
“If somebody is having a tough day on ice, you know it’s going to get recorded,” said Casey Dawson, a 2022 Olympic bronze medalist. “Be prepared.”
Athletes described making the coach’s Instagram feed a badge of honor, dispelling the myth that their sport is easy.
“It shows the tough side of long track speedskating. You know, some people see it as like, oh, it’s not that hard, but they see, you know, Ryan’s story about somebody huddled over a trash can, and you see that as well,” Dawson said.
“He hasn’t gotten me yet. That day is still to come,” said Zach Stoppelmoor, an Olympic hopeful.
Coach Shimabukuro said the keyword is “yet.”
His #pukeandrally pics have quite the international following.
“When we’re at international competitions, people in the stands will send me videos of athletes hovered over a trash can,” Shimabukuro said. “So I got my spies out there. No one’s safe.”
The U.S. Olympic Long Track speedskating trials take place from Jan. 2 – 5 at the Utah Olympic Oval. Expect incredible competition, and don’t forget to follow Coach Shimabukuro on Instagram for his highlights of the competition.
