Surrey skater speeds his way to four golds, a silver at BC Winter Games

Speed skater Barnett Liu was lightning-quick on the track in Fort St. John, where the Surrey-area teen won four gold medals and added a silver during the 2020 BC Winter Games.

His medal haul was among the most of any of the 1,000-plus athletes who participated in 15 sports at the 2020 Games, which ran from Feb. 20-23.

Barnett, 14, and his family live in the Fraser Heights neighbourhood, where his five medals were proudly displayed on their kitchen table this week.

After giving a few other sports a go, including hockey and figure skating, Barnett tried speed skating for the first time four years ago, and caught on quick. He now trains with the Lighting club in Port Coquitlam.

“I just really enjoy going fast on the ice,” Barnett said. “I don’t know, there’s just something special about gliding on the ice at extremely fast speeds that I really like doing.”

• RELATED STORY: Many medals for Surrey-area athletes at 2020 BC Winter Games.

In Fort St. John, Barnett won gold medals in three short-track races – the 400M, 1500M and 2000M point race – and also as a member of the Fraser River zone 3000M relay team.

For the relay, a last-minute change found Barnett paired with two other skaters.

“We got the news it was going to be gendered and only