'I let them down': Aussie speed skater 'quite upset with myself' after bombing out in qualifying
A dejected Brendan Corey admitted he was "upset" with himself and felt as though he let his parents down after finishing last in his heat of the 1000m short track skating event at Milano Cortina 2026.
Corey, whose preferred event is the 1500m, started second in the first heat and sat third for the majority of the eight laps.
On the final lap, the Aussie was overtaken by Kazakh Denis Nikisha and placed fourth. Italy's Pietro Sighel qualified in first and was 0.312 seconds ahead of Corey. France's Quentin Fercoq finished second.
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Brendan Corey sits in third in the 1000m event. Getty
"That's tough for Brendan, he's got the engine to do it," Steven Bradbury said on Nine's coverage.
"The race was slow for the first three laps and he chose to continue and allow the Frenchman to pick up the box seat and he didn't have the acceleration in the slightly softer ice conditions."
Corey spoke to Nine's Christine Ahern post-race and was short for words when describing his disappointment.
"I didn't skate a very good race and I'm quite upset with myself," he said.
The Australian was then asked how difficult a race it was considering he trains with Sighel and Fercoq.
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He took three deep breaths in before his frustration showed again.
"I train with the Italian and French team and they got the better of me today, what can I say?," he replied.
Corey also had his parents in the crowd and lamented not being able to perform to his best.
"They support me no matter what and I know they'll do anything for me," he said.
"I feel like I let them down a little bit in that one but I know they're still proud of me regardless."
The 29-year-old will now prepare to skate in the 500m and 1500m races with the latter his pet event.
