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Honoring and congratulating the Champion of the Week, Lucas Koo, a Masterman High School student who competed in short track speed skating at the Winter Youth Olympic Games.
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WHEREAS, Lucas Koo, who first stepped onto the ice at the young age of four, was able to travel to Gangwon, South Korea just thirteen years later to participate as a speed skater in the Winter Youth Olympic Games. Koo began speed skating because a nearby rink offered free lessons; and
WHEREAS, Koo balances the workload of training five to six days a week with being a student at the academically rigorous Masterman High School. Koo found his parents’ car to double as a work space, as he completed homework from his four Advanced Placement classes while commuting to Bridgewater, New Jersey for practice during the week and Potomac, Maryland on the weekends; and
WHEREAS, Despite growing up in the United States, Koo decided to represent Brazil in Winter Youth Olympics, honoring his Brazilian roots through his father who was raised in the South American country. Lucas saw this as an opportunity to represent a country who had not had strong representation in Ice Sports; and
WHEREAS, In Lucas’ free time, he shares the hobbies of most teens such as playing video games, watching YouTube videos, and hanging with friends. Growing up, he participated in other sports such as swimming and soccer, but decided to dedicate himself to speedskating because of his love for the intensity that the sport provided; and
WHEREAS, Lucas is expected to graduate from Masterman in 2025. He plans to study Business at the University of Pennsylvania. He is also heavily considering training full time with hopes of reaching the 2026 Olympics, which seems like a goal not too far out of reach for Koo; and
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we honor and congratulate the Lucas Koo, a Masterman High School student who competed in short track speed skating at the Winter Youth Olympic Games.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an engrossed copy be presented to Lucas Koo, further evidencing the sincere admiration and respect of this legislative body.
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