Mia Krone started out her childhood as a hockey player, playing all over the North Shore. But by the time she hit 11, hockey wasn’t fun for her anymore — she was looking for a new challenge.

“My dad took me to the Evanston club and had me watch [speedskating] practice,” Krone said. “Because I knew how to skate, they gave me some speed skates and put me on the ice. At the time, Shani Davis was coaching on the ice so he was my first coach and got me hooked on the sport.”

Davis, a Chicago native, won the gold medal in the 1000-meter at the 2006 and 2010 Olympics and the silver medal in the 1500-meter in those same two Olympics. Continue reading →