Filipino-American skater Peter Groseclose settled for silver in the men’s 1500m short track speed skating event at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games on Friday, December 19, in Bangkok. Groseclose had controlled much of the race, leading with nine laps to go and looking poised to capture the gold.

However, in a dramatic final turn of the last lap, Thailand’s Taprom Chonlacharit seized an opening and surged past Groseclose to claim victory with a time of 02:25.800. Groseclose finished just behind in 02:26.207, while Indonesia’s Firdaus Marva Kayana Putra took bronze at 02:26.931.

A close finish with more opportunities ahead

Despite the narrow loss, Groseclose showed resilience and strategic racing, keeping himself in contention throughout the race. His performance confirmed him as one of the standout competitors for the Philippines, earning admiration from supporters for his strong pacing and endurance.

Groseclose still has opportunities to claim gold, as he is scheduled to compete in the 500m finals and the men’s open relay later in the day. His strong showing in the 1500m sets a promising stage for the remaining events, giving the Philippines a contender for additional medals in short track speed skating.

Momentum for Philippine speed skating

Groseclose’s silver adds to the growing presence of Filipino athletes in ice sports, highlighting both skill and competitive spirit. The Philippine delegation remains hopeful that his upcoming races will yield gold, further raising the profile of the nation in regional speed skating competitions.

The result also underscores the intensity and unpredictability of short track racing, where split-second decisions and timing can decide the podium in the final lap.