PLATTEVILLE, Feb. 11 — From starting to walk by 9 months old to moving to Utah in adulthood to hone his athletic talents on the ice, one 26-year-old with local family roots is now on his way to the Olympics to compete in long-track speed skating.

Fewer than 40 seconds will determine whether Zach Stoppelmoor — son of Dawn (Harwick) Stoppelmoor and Tom Stoppelmoor; and grandson of Sharon Harwick-Kieler, the late Ed Harwick, Wayne Stoppelmoor and the late Shirley Stoppelmoor — takes home a gold for Team USA this month.

Having the opportunity to compete in the Olympics is a dream come true for Zach, who has been on the move from a very young age, said his mom Dawn, who grew up in Kieler.

One early photo documenting Zach’s journey in athletics shows him skateboarding through the house at the age of about 2½ years old, said Dawn.

Zach’s grandma Sharon — a Cuba City resident who previously worked at the hospital in Platteville — remembers a trip the family took before Zach turned 1 year old when they had to put him on a harness, since he didn’t just walk, she said — he ran. And fast. So fast, in fact, that “none of us could catch him.”

Starting in his youth, he chose to play ice hockey and roller hockey. He did roller derby, unicycling and in-line speed skating.

“I think I just always enjoyed the speed … the adrenaline rush,” said Zach.

Around 2018, he moved to Utah for intensive training on the ice, which he says “has been a whole different level, a whole new experience.”

His routine now centers around working out twice per day, five to six days per week, for about 11 months of the year.

On-ice training involves positioning and speed work. Off-ice, it includes lifting weights and doing other strength training, plus running, swimming, and even biking up mountains.

“There’s always days that are more challenging than others,” says Zach, and it has taken a lot of discipline to get to where he is today.

This Thursday, Zach and his teammates will reach Milan for the Winter 2026 Olympics, he said.

His career of training will be put to the test Feb. 14, when he is scheduled to compete.

It’s just one race — 500 meters, a length that Zach says may take about 34 to 35 seconds to travel — that will determine how he places in the 2026 Olympic Winter Games.

“It’s what we train for,” he said. “We know we’ve got to go out there and make the most of what we can.”

Zach says that his biggest goal is to compete to the best of his abilities. But he would, of course, love to return home with a first-place win, as well.

Sharon’s message for her grandson as he prepares for the big day is a saying with special meaning to their family.

When Sharon’s mom passed away, Zach was there holding his great-grandma’s hands. In her honor, Zach got an image of her hands with wings extending from them tattooed onto his chest, Sharon said.

So now, Sharon’s guidance for Zach is always to “Fly those wings.”

Throughout Zach’s life, Sharon and other members of the family have watched as Zach has soared to success. Many were in the stands watching with glee when he made the Olympic team, she said.

“Everybody was crying,” she recalls. “I knew in my heart he was going to make it. I just had that feeling, and when he did, we were just jumping and hugging and crying.”

And Dawn was proud to “get the first big hug after he made the Olympic team,” she said.

Post-competition, some vacation time is on Zach’s agenda. He has trips planned to Colorado for snowboarding; to Florida for fishing; and to Iowa to visit family this spring.

Zach says he intends to continue living and training in Utah after and hopes to compete again in the Olympics in the future.

But while he plans to stay out West for now and notes how much he enjoys the mountains and scenery there, “It’s where I live, but it’s not home,” he says. So eventually, when his career allows, he looks forward to returning to the place where his journey toward the Olympics began: The Midwest.