Danny O’Shea’s journey to Olympic glory culminated in winning the top honor in figure skating.
Hailing from Gurnee, O’Shea, alongside his partner Ellie Kam, clinched the gold medal in the team figure skating event. The achievement was celebrated with enthusiasm by students and faculty at his former school, Saint Viator High School.
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O’Shea and Kam delivered a breathtaking performance, earning them the prestigious Olympic gold as part of Team USA in the team event.
“It’s an incredible feeling to stand on the ice and hear your national anthem play, especially on the Olympic stage,” O’Shea remarked.
O’Shea’s path to Olympic success can be traced back to Saint Viator High School in Arlington Heights, where he was both a student and a dedicated skater.
Father John Eustice recalls O’Shea’s transfer to the school during his junior year and the impression he made with his focus and determination.
“He was very determined, very genuine and one of the kindest people you ever would have met,” Eustice said.
Elyse Bartnicki agrees. She was a classmate of O’Shea’s and is now a Spanish teacher at St. Viator.
Bartnicki says they lost touch after graduating in 2009, but she has kept up with O’Shea’s skating career, including how he came close to the Olympics in previous years and finally, at the age of 34, how he is competing this year for the first time.
“That smile that he has on television is the exact same smile he had when he was in school,” Bartnicki said.
O’Shea and Kam are hoping to add to their medal haul in this weekend’s Pairs competition.
O’Shea is already inspiring the next generation of skaters, like Evan Neuhaus, a junior at St. Viator who hopes to make it to the Olympics in 2030.
“It was just so inspiring to see that someone went to my school, St. Viator, went to the Olympics and won gold is just, I want to do that someday as well,” Neuhaus said.
Soon, O’Shea’s name will join the list of other esteemed alumni in the Saint Viator Hall of Fame.
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