Michael Ireland
Personal Details
Biography
Mike Ireland is a four-time Olympian who made his Olympic debut at Lillehammer 1994 and also competed at Salt Lake City 2002, Turin 2006 and Vancouver 2010.
GETTING TO KNOW…
Has a daughter, Myla, with wife, Noriko … Started speed skating at the age of five … Enjoys a wide variety of sports including golf, tennis, soccer, hockey, rollerblading … Has an interest in computers.
Olympic Highlights
| Games | Sport | Event | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 Lillehammer | Speed Skating - Long Track | 500m - Men | 26 |
| 2002 Salt Lake City | Speed Skating - Long Track | 1,000m - Men | 14 |
| 2002 Salt Lake City | Speed Skating - Long Track | 500m - Men | 7 |
| 2006 Turin | Speed Skating - Long Track | 500m - Men | 7 |
| 2010 Vancouver | Speed Skating - Long Track | 500m - Men | 16 |
Notable International Results
World Championship Results
2008 (Nagano, JPN): 8th - 500 metres 2007 (Salt Lake City, USA): 9th - 500 metres 2004 (Seoul, KOR): Bronze - 500 metres; 10th - 1,000 metres 2003 (Berlin, GER): 12th - 1,000 metres; 22nd - 500 metres 2001 (Salt Lake City, USA): 8th - 1,000 metres; 9th - 500 metres 2000 (Nagano, JPN): Silver - 500 metres; Bronze - 1,000 metres 1999 (Heerenveen, NED): 9th - 500 metres; 14th - 1,000 metres 1998 (Calgary, Alta.): 6th - 500 metres; 24th - 1,000 metres 1997 (Warsaw, POL): 5th - 500 metres 1996 (Hamar, NOR): 12th - 500 metres
Career Notes
2009-10: Posted a 13th-place finish in 500-metre World Cup race in Calgary just hours after his wife, Noriko, gave birth to daughter, Myla (12/05/09) ... Won 500-metre B event race the day prior ... Earned Olympic spot with 2nd-overall finish in 500 metres at Canadian Single Distances Championships in Calgary. 2008-09: Crashed in first World Cup event of 2008-09 season in Berlin, GER, and missed rest of season with a shoulder injury. 2007-08: Finished in top 10 in both 500 metres races at 2008 Single Distance WC ... Silver medallist at 2008 Inzell World Cup ... Finished 3rd in 500 metres at Richmond Oval Invitational ... Was 12th overall in 500 metres on World Cup circuit ... Ranked 2nd in Canada in 500 metres. 2006-07: Ranked 10th in 500 metres on World Cup circuit ... Finished 3rd in 1,000 metres at Canadian Single Distance Championships ... Ranked No. 1 in Canada in 500 metres. 2005-06: Ranked 16th in 500 metres on World Cup circuit ... Ranked No. 1 in Canada in 500 metres. 2004-05: Did not compete after suffering a near fatal concussion while mountain biking in California (September 2004). 2003-04: Bronze medallist at 2004 Sprint WC ... Bronze medallist in 500 metres at 2004 Single Distance WC and finished 10th in 1,000 metres ... Ranked 5th on World Cup circuit in both 500 and 1,000 metres ... Ranked 2nd in Canada in both 500 and 1,000 metres 2002-03: Battled an adductor muscle injury in 2003 to finish 9th at Sprint WC. 2001-02: Bronze medallist at 2002 Sprint WC ... Placed 4th overall in 2002 World Cup standings in 500 metres and 1,000 metres. 2000-01: 2001 world sprint champion (Inzell, GER) ... Set world record in 1,000 metres (1:08.34) in Calgary (3/3/01), broken eight days later by teammate Jeremy Wotherspoon. 1999-00: Finished 2nd in 500 metres at 2000 Single Distance WC. 1993-94: Made Olympic debut in Lillehammer, finishing 26th in 500 metres.
