Sun 17 Jun 2012 In: Worth Checking Out View at Wayback View at NDHA
Blake Skjellerup What's our favourite Winter Olympian been up to? Gay speed skater Blake Skjellerup has provided a video update from his current home, Melbourne. The tireless athlete is currently biking solo from Melbourne to Sydney. He will donate 50 per cent of the donations he receives from the 16-30 of June through his GABA Give A Little account, to the Canterbury Earthquake Children’s Trust. He is also fundraising to get to the 2014 Sochi, Russia, Olympics. Now 27, Skjellerup began speed skating in his home town of Christchurch, New Zealand, at the age of 10. He initially played rugby until an injury gave him the opportunity to try something new. Speed skating presented itself, and after a few lessons he realised that not only was this his passion, but that he was pretty good at it too. In 2010 Skjellerup represented New Zealand at the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, placing 16th. He is determined to do even better in 2014. Not only an accomplished athlete, Blake is an outspoken advocate for glbt youth and one of only a handful of openly gay Olympians. Watch an update from Blake below: - 17th June 2012