Shreya Arun

Shreya Arun, a junior at Loudoun Valley High School, has made significant strides in speed skating, winning the United States Short Track Age Group Nationals. This achievement, secured in March while competing at the Verona Ice Arena in Wisconsin, saw her dominate the Junior Ladies BC division. To claim the national championship, Arun needed to place first in at least three of the four distances she skated (500, 777, 1000, and 1500 meters). Her dedication to the sport is evident in her rigorous training schedule, which involves year-round sessions under coach Hyun Jung Lee at the United Capital Blades Speed Skating Club, four times a week for three hours per session, in addition to daily at-home cross-training.

Beyond her athletic pursuits, Shreya Arun is an academically strong student and an active social entrepreneur. She serves as the CEO of Iloom, a non-profit company she founded in October. Iloom’s mission involves collecting returned items from various manufacturers and repurposing them through donations to charitable organizations in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington D.C. This initiative highlights Arun’s commitment to community work and her ability to manage both her demanding athletic career and entrepreneurial endeavors. Her achievements in both sports and community service were formally recognized by Purcellville Mayor Kwasi Fraser, who declared April 9 as “Shreya Arun Day” in appreciation of her dedication to speed skating, academic excellence, and community work.

Arun’s speed skating journey began at age nine, stemming from an early fascination with speed skaters during her figure skating lessons in Columbia, MD. Over seven years, she has accumulated extensive experience, including victories in two regional competitions prior to her national championship win. Her future aspirations include securing a spot at the Youth Olympic Trials in October to represent the U.S. at the Youth Olympic Games in Lausanne, Switzerland, and pursuing a career as a pediatrician. Her journey is supported by her father, Arun Natarajan, who emphasized the family’s joint commitment to her passion, spending 30 to 40 hours weekly on her training.