Sometimes when he is most in need of a mental break, George Washington University senior Noah Troppe seeks out a statistics test to relieve his stresses. Because don’t we all?
But in a way, tunneling in and focusing on the methodical nature of solving a problem is a perfect reset for Troppe, who also happens to be one of the United States’ best young short-track speedskaters with eyes on the 2026 Olympic Trials.
While there is only one correct p-value, the answer stems from the multiple steps in setting up the equation on a statistics test—which isn’t so different from speedskating. The grueling workouts five days per week, anything from 10 sets of 700-meter repeats to off-ice squat routines, all add up to race day success.
Many see the culmination of an athlete’s work, such as when Troppe represented GW and Team USA Jan. 13-23 at the World University Games in Torino, Italy, where he made it to the semifinals of the 1,500-meter race. But few see the discipline and dedication it takes to reach that stage.
“A lot of people don’t like the pain of training, but I like it,” said Troppe, an economics and public policy double major at GW. “It’s part of the process, and the results come if you put in the work.”
That process has been years in the making.
Troppe played hockey when he was younger but made the switch to speedskating when he was 12 years old, a relatively late start to the sport for someone of his caliber. He learned the values of athletics from his parents, Pat and Patty Troppe, who met on the rowing team at GW.
For starters, they shared with him the importance of team and experiencing a journey together. The younger Troppe has taken that to heart, captaining his team at the prestigious Potomac Speedskating Club, which has won six national club championships in a row.
Knowing younger skaters in the club are watching his every move makes it even more motivating for Troppe to give everything he has on a final set or work on his homework in the car on the way to practice so he can be locked in for his teammates.
“The hard work, the dedication, the daily grind—it all becomes more manageable when you’ve got teammates going through it with you,” said Patty Troppe, B.A. ’90, M.Phil. ’02, Ph.D. ’06, who is now a vice president at a professional services corporation in the DMV. “That sense of community was something we really appreciated in our time as Division I athletes.”
Troppe also learned through his parents how important it was to maintain a sense of balance and be driven to excel in all areas of life, which has also allowed him to maintain the structure required to train as a top-level athlete. It’s helped that he has such a wide variety of interests, even at a young age. In addition to hockey and of course speedskating later, Troppe was also stellar on the tennis courts as a youth. There’s also a fine arts side to him, as he’s passionate about music and singing—he was a part of honors choir—in addition to studying Latin as a child.
“He even played the bagpipes for a few years, which is one of those things that shows how well-rounded he is—a true renaissance guy!” said Pat Troppe, B.A. ’90, who now works in real estate technology. “Over time, he’s focused more on speed skating, but his creativity is still a big part of who he is.”
Troppe has shown that to be true at GW, where he is heavily involved both in and out of the classroom. He takes voice lessons with Adjunct Professor of Music Millicent Scarlett and recently joined the University Singers choir, where he enjoys performing at the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design’s Fridays @ 5 events before hopping in the car and driving to Maryland for another three-hour practice. He is also a tutor with the University Writing Program, tapping into his passion for helping others.
Having so many opportunities so close to his training facility was a big draw to GW, a place his family knows well.
“One of the things I’ve always loved about GW is how students can pursue opportunities outside the campus,” Patty Troppe said. “You can work on the Hill, get internships and explore passions beyond what’s offered on campus. It’s not unusual to have a unique path like Noah’s, and that makes the university a great fit for him.”
Troppe has also found interests in the classroom, adding an economics major shortly after a stimulating class with Assistant Professor Daniel Mackay. Troppe found that he really liked the combination of math and analysis, which make sense for a person who finds statistics tests relaxing. He enjoys how much it connects to public policy. Oh, and he’s even taken a class with someone—Professor of Political Science, Public Policy and Public Administration Robert Stoker—who taught his mother at GW.
While the balance and variety of interests have only aided Troppe to this point, he’s focused on what lies ahead in speedskating. He purposely tailored his schedule to graduate—which he’s set to do this May—in three years so he can singularly focus on the Olympic Trials, for which he’s already qualified.
Troppe plans to move west after Commencement to train at the U.S. Olympic facility in Utah as he gears up a push toward the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan, Italy. There’s more—much more—grueling work on the ice for Troppe. But like the answer to a stats equation, the end result will be the culmination of the steps—with none skipped—it takes to get there.
“I think it’s just the possibility that it could lead to something big,” Troppe said. “It sounds kind of crazy, but going to the Olympics is something that’s actually on the table. If this is something I really want to do, then this is just part of the process. That’s what keeps me going. There’s nothing I’ve sacrificed that I regret.”
