Tucker Fredricks is feeling the heat on a track where ice doesn't stand a chance. The 2006 Olympian knows now that this is what it takes.

"I just kind of did the bare minimum at workouts, just showed up and did whatever," said the 25-year old U.S. speedskater.

After finishing 25th in Torino in the 500-meter long track - he's no longer just skating by.

"You know my mindset just changed and I've been working hard ever since," said Fredricks.

He and the U.S. speedskating team normally train in Salt Lake City. But this June in Chula Vista, Calif., they got a low altitude workout at one of finest Olympic facilities in the world.

The entire team worked hard at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, pushing and pulling each other through a set of drills that will hopefully lay the foundation for a trip to Vancouver.

Ellie Ochowicz, 25 and already a two-time Olympian, is hoping the third time’s a charm.

"It's definitely in my blood, it's in my genes,” she said. “Like I was destined to be in the Olympics."

Her mom was a speedskating gold, silver, and bronze medalist in 1976, dad an Olympic cyclist. She's been on the fast track from her
childhood.

Of course speed is only part of the equation.

There's agility, explosiveness, coordination and timing, which is critical to every to every single training session speedskaters go through.
Every jump, jog and drill is timed. Even the water gets special attention.

When your Olympic clock is ticking - details make the difference in turning dreams into reality.