Chase For 2026 Olympics Begins Now For Santos-Griswold, U.S. Short Track Team
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5'4"
26
Poughkeepsie, NY
Clayton DeClemente grew up in Poughkeepsie, New York, playing roller hockey. DeClemente skated around the house for practice when his mother decided to sign him up for speedskating because, in her opinion, he looked more like a speedskater. DeClemente has said: “(It) worked out, because I was really bad at the stick-handling part of hockey.”
DeClemente joined the short track national team in 2020. He was named to his first world championship team in 2021 and, two years later, competed in two individual events, the 1,000-meter and 1,500-meter.
Off the ice, DeClemente balances his training with working at the Olympic Oval in Salt Lake City in the rink’s concession stand. He works up to four evenings a week,selling pretzels, churros, hot dogs, chicken, and fries to the families at the rink for youth hockey or speedskating practices.