Flushing Meadows Speed Skating Club

Flushing Meadows Speed Skating Club
Sport
Speed skating
Founded1959
LocationFlushing Meadows–Corona Park, Queens, New York City
ArenaWorld Ice Arena at the Flushing Meadows Corona Park Aquatics Center and Ice Rink
Websitefmssc.com

Flushing Meadows Speed Skating Club (FMSSC) is a competitive and recreational speed skating club based at the World Ice Arena in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park in Queens. In 2011, The Wall Street Journal reported that FMSSC was the only organized speed skating club remaining in New York City.[1]

History

Speed skating has taken place in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park since the early 1940s following the construction of an ice rink for the 1939 New York World's Fair.[2] In 1941, the rink was transferred to the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, which organized and conducted public skating and competitive speed skating.[2] The club was incorporated in 1959, formalizing the local speed skating community and enabling both sanctioned competition and structured training.[3]

By the 1960s, the club was hosting national-level competition: a 1968 New York Times article reported that the United States speed skating senior men’s championship was contested there by elite skaters including members of the U.S. Olympic team.[4] Flushing Meadows produced an Olympic speed skater in Bill Lanigan, who represented the United States at the 1968 and 1972 Winter Olympics.[5] The club also served as a training ground for future Major League Baseball player Lee Mazzilli, who won multiple national age-group speed skating titles during the 1960s.[6]

In 1997, club members Carole Moore, Dave Phillips, and Thomas Ryan completed the Elfstedentocht, a 200-kilometer marathon speed skating race in the Netherlands, earning the De Friesche Elfsteden Cross.[7]

During the early 2000s, speed skating at Flushing Meadows was included in Parks Department–sponsored winter programming and public festivals.[8] A 2000 New York Times article noted participation by skaters ranging in age from young children to those in their seventies, and a mix of recreational and competitive members.[9] In 2008, when the original rink was incorporated into an expansion of the Queens Museum, FMSSC relocated its practices to the World Ice Arena.[10]

In 2018, Flushing Meadows Speed Skating Club registered in New York State as a nonprofit 501(c)(3).[11]

Since 2016, coaching at the club has been led by former Ukrainian national team skater Serhiy Lifyrenko.[12] During this period, the club trained internationally competitive athletes, including Filipino speed skater Julian Macaraeg, who competed on the ISU Short Track Speed Skating World Cup circuit from 2018-2021, and Louisiana Stahl, who in 2024 was named to the United States Junior National Short Track Team.[13][14] In 2021, former club coach Stephen Gough was appointed coach of the United States National Short Track team.[15]

Activities

FMSSC conducts training in short track, long track, and marathon speed skating. The club includes skaters at a range of experience levels, from beginners to nationally competitive athletes.[16]

Club members compete in regional and national events sanctioned by governing bodies for speed skating in the United States.[14]

References

  1. ↑ Hollander, Sophia (2011-03-12). "Speed Skating for the Fun of It: Long-Time Flushing Meadows Club Is the Last of Its Kind in New York City". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2026-01-05.
  2. 1 2 Sturgeon, Wina (2012-02-24). "Skates Built for Speed and for Burning Calories". The New York Times. Retrieved 2026-01-05.
  3. ↑ "About FMSSC". Flushing Meadows Speed Skating Club.
  4. ↑ "Lanigan Wins Title; Captures 5 Races". The New York Times. 1968-03-11. Retrieved 2026-01-18.
  5. ↑ U.S. Speedskating Olympic Media Guide (PDF) (Report). US Speedskating. 2018. p. 40. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
  6. ↑ McCarron, Anthony (2020-12-12). "Mets fan favorite Lee Mazzilli happy to relive his days as a speedskating champ". New York Daily News. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
  7. ↑ Ryan, Thomas (April 1997). "The goal of a lifetime met and conquered in twelve hours of agony and enjoyment" (PDF). Racing Blade. pp. 12–13. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  8. ↑ "Over 500 Activities Offered During Winter Festival 2003". New York City Department of Parks & Recreation. 2003-01-15. Retrieved 2026-01-18.
  9. ↑ Walsh, Julie (2000-01-18). "The Novice; Speed Skating: Go Fast Turn Left No Brakes". The New York Times. Retrieved 2026-01-05.
  10. ↑ "Flushing Meadow Speed Skating Club". World Ice Arena.
  11. ↑ "Flushing Meadows Speed Skating Club Inc". Candid. Retrieved 2026-01-18.
  12. ↑ "A Profile of Louisiana Stahl '23, Professional Speedskater". The Science Survey. 2023-01-18. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
  13. ↑ "Julian Macaraeg". International Skating Union. 2021-10-28. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
  14. 1 2 "USS Announces 2024–25 Junior National and Development Teams". USA Speedskating. 2024-05-07. Retrieved 2026-01-18.
  15. ↑ "Short Track Team Welcomes New Coach Stephen Gough". USA Speedskating. 2021-05-17. Retrieved 2026-01-18.
  16. ↑ Clark, Roger (2022-02-04). "At Queens arena, it's skating at the speed of fun". NY1. Retrieved 2026-01-18.
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