Earlier this year, Emery Lehman competed in his fourth Winter Olympics for Team USA, coming away with his second consecutive Team Pursuit Olympic medal, winning Silver alongside Ethan Cepuran and Casey Dawson, having won Bronze in Beijing in 2022. Emery has since retired as an elite individual and Team Pursuit speed skater, and his previous Olympics include 2014 Sochi and 2018 PyeongChang. During the 2025-26 season, Emery won the fifth consecutive overall Gold with Ethan and Casey in the Team Pursuit at the World Cups, and broke the team’s world record by 1.17 seconds at the season-opening World Cup in Salt Lake City in November. Emery has had a hugely successful speed skating career in both individual and Team Pursuits representing the United States of America, such as Gold last year at the World Single Distances Championships in the Team Pursuit in Hamar and Gold at the World Junior Championships in Collabo in 2013 for the 5000m race. Answering our questions, Emery told us about winning Silver at his fourth Winter Olympics for Team USA in the Team Pursuit alongside Ethan and Casey, his success at the 2025-26 World Cups and his highlights over the years as an elite speed skater.
After competing at your fourth Winter Olympics for Team USA this year, you retired from speed skating after an illustrious career; what was it like coming to the decision to step away from the sport and how did you know it was the right time?
I actually knew four years ago that it was the right time to step away. My body and mind were telling me it was time. Also, when you’re skating faster and your results aren’t getting better, you know it’s kind of time to start thinking about hanging it up. I think there were things I was willing to do, or approaches I took, when I was younger that I just don’t have today.
Looking back over your last speed skating season, what are some of your favourite moments from your final year as a competitive athlete?
I think my favourite moment this past year was actually when we set the world record. I think we were completely surprised by that fact, and it was just such a cool thing to experience with these guys. All of my favourite memories from skating are ones that I can share with other people.
How did you feel knowing the Games would be your last races as an individual skater and with Ethan Cepuran and Casey Dawson and what was it like at the start line of your final ever race for Team USA?
It was definitely bittersweet, but we’ve also had a great time together. Those guys are excited to do their own thing in their individual races going forward, so I think from all of us we were excited to close it out and try and do the best we could at our final Olympic races together.
You made the Olympic podium in the Men’s Team Pursuit for the second consecutive Games, this time winning Silver alongside Ethan and Casey (after winning Bronze in Beijing); what was it like coming away from your last competition with another medal at the Olympic Games?
Obviously, every medal is special. We definitely had hopes for Gold, but when you skate poorly and get a Silver medal at the Olympics, that means that we had some serious talent and skill. No matter the colour of the medal, I’m proud of how we did.
How do you handle the pressure when Team USA are a favourite to win a medal, and how did you balance that with enjoying the races?
You know, I approach every race the same. I approach every race like I would want to win it, no matter if I’m the last person or the first person. My mindset, my goals and my execution never really changed. Doing all those things and going out there and skating the fastest I could possibly skate. It was the most fun thing in the world, and competing against myself was the best part of the sport.
When we last spoke last year, you mentioned that you’d only had one “normal Olympics” (PyeongChang 2018), as the 2014 Games in Sochi had high security and 2022 Beijing was during the COVID pandemic; how did the 2026 Winter Olympics compare to your previous experiences?
The 2026 Olympics were by far my favourite. I have friends and family and be able to experience. The city outside of the village was truly remarkable, and this one will definitely go down as my favourite Olympics.
The 2025-26 speed skating season also saw you win your fifth consecutive overall Gold in the Men’s Team Pursuit with Ethan and Casey at the World Cups; how was it achieving consistency in the sport at a high level and what do you think led to the team’s success?
I think that’s something we can be incredibly proud of. To have that consistency with those guys, and the stamp and legacy we will leave on that event is something that we can bond and talk about for the rest of our lives.
What was it like breaking the team’s world record by 1.17 seconds at the season-opening World Cup in Salt Lake City in November?
That was probably one of the highlights of my career and this season because it came as an absolute surprise. The best thing in our sport is when you can surprise yourself in a good way in a race.
How does it feel to be selected to represent your country at major competitions such as the Winter Olympics and the World Single Distances Speed Skating Championships?
Obviously, being selected is super special, but at the same time you earned those spots. I will always be proud to represent the United States, but at the same time, I know that if I make it then I deserve it because of my hard work. And if I don’t make it, then there’s no one else to blame but myself.
Do you have any favourite highlights over your career as a speed skater and representing Team USA that you can share with us?
I think my favourite highlight of my entire career was the time I spent training with my teammates or the time I spent in the car with my mom going to and from Milwaukee. Other than that, winning Junior Championships in 2013, and meeting all the professional Blackhawks players while they were at the Olympics in 2014 was great.
What do you think you will miss most about being a competitive speed skater?
I think I’m going to miss pushing myself and having something that I care about that much in my life. I’m hoping to find that in my new career at Merrill Lynch though!
Is there anything you would have liked to have known before taking up the sport?
I think not knowing what to expect is one of the most exciting things in life. If I were to do it all over again, they are very small tweaks I would make, but nothing major. I wish that I learned how to write a program and do my own equipment from a younger age though.
Were there any other careers you were interested in doing if you hadn’t become an athlete?
If I wasn’t an Olympic speed skater, then I probably would’ve tried any other sport to go pro in. I love competing, I love working hard, and I love competing against myself.
Do you have any upcoming plans now that you are retired from speed skating, and what are you hoping 2026 brings you?
I did a lot of travelling with my girlfriend, who also won an Olympic medal this past Olympics, Mia Manganello, but I actually started working about a month ago (hence the delay in response, which I apologise for!). I’m ready to start my next career path and get things going on the professional side of my life.
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