Delaware grad and tai chi master training Olympic athletes in Pyeongchang
Jessica Bies, The News Journal Published 9:46 a.m. ET Feb. 20, 2018 | Updated 10:16 a.m. ET Feb. 20, 2018
South Korea and Norway fans wave flags during a venue victory ceremony for men's speedskating 500m during the Pyeongchang 2018 Olympic Winter Games at Gangneung Ice Arena in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
(Photo: JEFFREY SWINGER, USA TODAY Sports)
A St. Andrew's School graduate and tai chi instructor is in Pyeongchang, South Korea, this month working with the U.S. Olympic speedskating team.
Tai chi is just one of several out-of-the-box training ideas U.S. Speedskating has embraced since a disastrous showing at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia, The New York Times reported. The team won one silver medal.
Though athletes originally blamed their poor performance on speedskating suits made by Under Armour, experts have since determined the racers just weren't as good as they thought they were. They were underprepared and overhyped for the games.
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St. Andrew's School
February 19 at 12:22pm ·
St. Andrew’s goes to South Korea!
We are so excited to follow the U.S. Olympic Speedskaters as Mark Cheng ’90 is an essential member of their training team. His successful work with the athletes as a tai chi instructor last spring at their annual strength and conditioning camp led him to continue on as “Mindfulness and Recovery Specialist” for the team.
Here he is on Friday in a photo sent to Al Wood, our St. Andrew’s Director of Athletics. Cheng wrote, “Ready to jump into a long day of work here with US Speedskating on the Gangneung coast for the Pyeongchang Olympics. Repping SAS all the way!”
Good luck, Team USA… The Saints are on your side!
For more of his story, read this article in the New York Times:
https://www.nytimes.com/…/speedskati...hang-games.ht…
Since then, both U.S. Speedskating and Under Armour have been working together to turn things around. In addition to spending $240,000 a year in gear and cash, the clothing company has brought on an eclectic group of advisers, including a fitness guru, a Tour de France cycling veteran, a Navy Seal, a sleep expert and Delaware-native tai chi master, Mark Cheng.
Cheng's successful work with the athletes as a tai chi instructor last spring at their annual strength and conditioning camp led him to continue on as “Mindfulness and Recovery Specialist” for the team. Tai chi helps reduce stress and relax athletes, as well as helping with breathing. Cheng has also been teaching the athletes to meditate.
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drmarkchengMy iPhone X camera can’t even come close to capturing the speed that these dudes manifest on this ice. Watching them floor it when they train inspires me in ways you can’t even imagine! So honored to be part of the @usspeedskating staff here at the @pyeongchang2018 @olympics!
#winterolympics2018 #gangneung #pyeongchang2018 #speedskating #iceicebaby #korea #highperformance #speed #uatraining #wewill #passionconnected
One speedskater, Aaron Tran, even gave Cheng a shoutout on Twitter this week. Tran did not make it past the qualifications of the 500 meters Tuesday and will leave South Korea without an individual medal.
Cheng has been tweeting at him and other Olympic athletes and praising for them for their work ethic and resilience, even in the face of huge disappointment.
Aaron Tran
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@AaronVaughnTran
Thanks man! But you're the real man 😆 You have so much knowledge and understanding, and have a good way to apply those in an effective way. It's an honor to work with you! #TeamUSA
4:46 AM - Feb 20, 2018
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Tran told Cheng he's helped him develop that mindset.
'You have so much knowledge and understanding and have a good way to apply those in an effective way," Tran told Cheng. "It's an honor to work with you! #TeamUSA"
Cheng said he is representing St. Andrew's School in Middletown at the games in South Korea. He graduated from the Episcopal, co-educational boarding school in 1990.
“Ready to jump into a long day of work here with U.S. Speedskating on the Gangneung coast for the Pyeongchang Olympics," he told the school's athletic director Al Wood in an email last week. "Repping SAS all the way!”
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drmarkchengUp in the house with @celskeet & @thomasishong to cheer on @usspeedskating teammates @thejessicakooreman, @biney.biney, & @lagehring1 for the Ladies’ 1500m Short Tracks heats here in Gangneung for the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics!
#winterolympics #speedskating #korea #squad #pyeongchang2018
Cheng, who has a private practice in Santa Monica, California, and works with patients recovering from surgery or in rehabilitation, grew up and went to school in Delaware. His parents are immigrants who still live in Delaware, and his father, Cheng Yu-Nien, started teaching him Chinese martial arts when he was 4 years old.
Find more pictures of Cheng at the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang at
https://www.instagram.com/DrMarkCheng/.
Contact Jessica Bies at (302) 324-2881 or
jbies@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @jessicajbies.