was offered a cross country college scholarship, but elected to continue with speed skating instead. Skating career At age nine, Chris Creveling competed in his first inline speed skating event. Because of his late December birthday, he was the youngest kid in his age group, forcing him to work harder to keep up with the other kids. As an inline speed skater, Creveling was selected for the United States' Junior World Team in 2003 and the Senior World Team three times from 2004–06. In 2004, he won a World Championship gold medal as part of United States' relay team. Following the example of many former teammates, Creveling joined the Wheels on Ice program to start transitioning to ice speed skating in 2007. "[I decided I was] finished with inline skating and had accomplished enough there," he recalled. "I set my sights on an Olympic medal. Seeing how many of my friends had crossed over opened my eyes and made me realize there's something bigger out there." He moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, where he trained for both long track and short track speed skating. After a year, he concluded he was better suited for short track events. In 2009, he moved to Marquette, Michigan, home of the US Olympics Education Center, to continue training while also pursuing an education. He enrolled at Northern Michigan University, majoring in business finance. Creveling participated in the 2010 Olympic Trials, finishing 13th overall. Facing budget constraints, the Olympics Education Center was closed. Creveling decided to drop out of school and move back to Salt Lake City to train full-time with the national team in 2012. "My education was important to me, he remarked. "But I knew I needed to move to be with the fastest guys in order to qualify for the Olympics." That fall, he won both time trials at the US Single Distance Championships and made the World Cup Team. He won his first World Cup medal when the United States placed third in the 5000 meter relay at Quebec. Creveling won the 1000 meters at the 2013 National Championships, and finished second overall at the event. At the 2013 World Championships in Hungary, he was the top American finisher, placing 16th overall. During the 2013–14 World Cup season, Creveling helped the United States to a silver (at Seoul) and two gold medals (at Shanghai and Kolomna). The team finished first