Glen Ellyn speed skater Ethan Cepuran feels like he has unfinished business

Cepuran aims for Olympic gold after winning bronze in Beijing 2022

Jan. 31, 2026 at 2:15pm

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Ethan Cepuran, a 25-year-old speed skater from Glen Ellyn, Illinois, is heading to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina with high hopes. Cepuran won a bronze medal in the team pursuit event at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, but he feels he has unfinished business and is aiming for gold this time around.

Why it matters

Cepuran's story highlights the dedication and perseverance required to reach the pinnacle of Olympic speed skating. His journey from skating on frozen Lake Ellyn as a child to becoming a world-record holder in team pursuit demonstrates the power of community support and early exposure to the sport.

The details

Cepuran qualified for the 2026 Olympics in the men's team pursuit and mass start events. He is also on the reserve list for the 5000-meter race. Cepuran is a world-record holder in team pursuit, having set a new record of 3 minutes, 32.49 seconds with his teammates in a 2024 World Cup event.

  • Cepuran and the U.S. Olympic speed skating team arrived in Milan, Italy, on Thursday, January 31, 2026, after a seven-hour bus ride from Inzell, Germany.
  • The men's team pursuit event, which Cepuran is competing in, will have preliminaries on February 15, followed by semifinals and finals on February 17.
  • The men's mass start event, which Cepuran also qualified for, is scheduled for February 21 at the Milano Speed Skating Stadium.

The players

Ethan Cepuran

A 25-year-old speed skater from Glen Ellyn, Illinois, who won a bronze medal in the team pursuit event at the 2022 Beijing Olympics and is aiming for gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina.

Carl Cepuran

Ethan Cepuran's father, who started the family's speed skating journey on Chicago's South Side and later helped establish the Glen Ellyn Speedskating Club.

Marilyn Cepuran

Ethan Cepuran's mother, who will be attending the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina to watch her son compete.

Eric Cepuran

Ethan Cepuran's older brother, who helped introduce him to speed skating at a young age.

Gordon Cepuran

Ethan Cepuran's older brother, who also helped introduce him to speed skating at a young age.

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What they’re saying

“Our goal is to win, and we were definitely disappointed that we didn't follow through with that.”

— Ethan Cepuran (dailyherald.com)

“We've been looking forward to this, hoping he'd get another return trip to the Olympics.”

— Carl Cepuran, Ethan Cepuran's father (dailyherald.com)

“Having that short-track background growing up really helped Ethan develop that hard-nosed, competitive edge and also the strategy and tactics for racing in a large group without a whole lane to yourself.”

— Carl Cepuran, Ethan Cepuran's father (dailyherald.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

Ethan Cepuran's journey from skating on frozen Lake Ellyn as a child to becoming a world-record holder in team pursuit demonstrates the power of community support and early exposure to the sport. His determination to win Olympic gold in Milano Cortina 2026 is a testament to his dedication and the sacrifices he has made to reach the pinnacle of his sport.