Joey Mantia is an American speed skating Olympian, 28-time world champion, and a world record holder. He also won two gold medals at the 2003 Pan American Games and a gold medal at the 2007 Pan American Games. He won the American Speed Skater of the Year award three times in a row, in 2005, 2006 and 2007, and the 2007 Elmer Ringeisen Sportsmanship Award. In October 2010, after winning two world titles at the inline skating championships in Colombia, he was ranked second among male competitors in the USOC Athlete of the Month competition. As of January 7, 2010, Mantia held the world records for the road race over 500 m, 10,000 m and 20,000 m, and the world records for the track race over 300 m and 15,000 m.
Early life
Joey Mantia started skating on roller blades as a self-described "rink rat," often asking his parents to bring him to the local indoor skating rink. He spent a lot of time at public skating sessions and learned about speed skating by watching inline skating practice at the rink. After experiencing inline speed skating, Mantia decided to dedicate his life to "becoming the best speed skater in the world".
Speed skating career
In 2010, Mantia switched from inline speed skating to speed skating on ice. He first moved to the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and then to Salt Lake City, Utah, to train with the national team two years later. Mantia finished fourth at the 2011 US speed skating championships over 5000 m, tenth in the 1000 m and eighth in the 1500 m. In early 2013, Mantia made his debut on the World Cup competition circuit. He found success less than a year later, at the Berlin World Cup in December 2013 where he finished first in the 1500 m, beating out his teammate Shani Davis, a two-time Olympic silver medalist in the 1500 m, and Russia's Denis Yuskov, the reigning world champion, to win gold. Mantia represented Team USA at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics where he finished 15th in the 1000 m, 22nd in the 1500 m and 7th in the team pursuit. In January 2018, Mantia qualified for the 2018 U.S. Olympic Team, winning the 1000 m and 1500 m events. He also qualified for the mass start.
Personal records
As of January 17, 2018, his ranking on the all-time Adelskalender is 55th.
Personal life
Mantia is an investor and owner in Coffee Lab, a coffee shop located on the University of Utah campus. In his free time, Mantia taught himself to play piano.
Sponsorships
Mantia has appeared in XFINITY commercials, and a Giorgio Armani short film entitled The Scent of Life by Acqua di Giò – Joey Mantia – Episode 2.
