79 Days Until The Winter Olympics: US Team of Dawson, Lehman, and Cepuran Shatter A World Speed Skating Record
As the days get closer to the start of the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, every event for the Men’s Speed Skating team is a stepping stone to the final prize. Or, better stated, a long sheet of ice at speeds that leave the average viewer breathless. For the trio of Casey Dawson, Emery Lehman, and Ethan Cepuran, they don’t just glide down the ice with scary precision, they rewrite records.
Using the roar of a home crowd, the US Men’s Speed Skating team completed an extraordinary performance at the Utah Olympic Oval, shattering their own world record, sending a powerful message. When they crossed the finish line, the clock stopped at 3:32.49. They had obliterated their previous world record of 3:33.66, set at the same rink in 2024, by a staggering 1.17 seconds. Reigning 2022 Olympic champion Norway was left nearly three seconds behind, a testament to the Americans’ dominance. The performance wasn’t just a victory; it was a statement.
The historic event took place on the final day of the ISU Speed Skating World Cup opener in Salt Lake City, Utah last Sunday (November 16). The second leg of the World Cup is November 21 to 23 in Calgary, Canada.
Dawson: The Speed Skater Voted Most Likely to Break a World Record
Bragging rights of a world record is one thing. For Dawson, it was made even better as his high school buddies were on hand to watch the historic feat. You could tell it meant something to Dawson.
Dawson said: “Skating a world record on home ice — you know, it’s amazing. We have the energy pulling us to the line,” Dawson told US Speedskating after the race. “It was honestly one of the easier team pursuits we’ve skated because we have the energy pretty much just dragging us along, and it was great to do it with these two.”
A Team Forged for Gold
This record-breaking performance is another milestone for a team that has become the standard in men’s team pursuit. Dawson, Lehman, and Cepuran have built a dynasty, racing to the country’s fourth-straight overall World Cup title last season and securing the first world championship gold for the U.S. in the event since 2011.
Their journey is marked by consistent excellence and a shared, singular focus. While the home-ice victory was sweet, their eyes are firmly fixed on a much larger prize: Olympic gold at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games.
“We think about that every day,” Cepuran admitted, highlighting the team’s relentless drive. “We know we can’t take the foot off the gas pedal. It’s November right now. The goal is February.”
Their recent achievements underscore their position as the team to beat:
- 2022 Olympic Bronze Medalists: The trio announced their arrival on the world’s biggest stage.
- Four-Time Overall World Cup Champions: A testament to their consistent dominance season after season.
- 2025 World Championship Gold Medalists: The first U.S. men’s team to win since 2011.
- New World Record: A blistering 3:32.49, smashing their own previous record.
With the World Cup tour now heading to Calgary, the American trio carries the momentum of a historic weekend. They aren’t just winning races; they are redefining what’s possible in their sport. The world is watching as they skate with purpose, precision, and an unyielding hunger for the one prize that has so far eluded them: Olympic gold.
