Smeding first female Team GB speed skater for 42 years

Speed Skating 07 Feb 22

Ellia Smeding made a pact with herself to relish how it felt to become the first long track speed skater to represent Team GB in a generation.

The Aylesbury ace let rip on her improbable dream Olympic debut, skating 2:01.09 to finish 27th in the 1500m event at Beijing’s stunning National Speed Skating Oval.

In the process she became the first to represent Britain in Olympic long track since 1992 and the first woman to do so since Lake Placid all the way back in 1980.

“It's amazing. I really tried to soak up that feeling,” said the 23-year-old.

“I really wanted to put down a good race, to make the country proud and show them what long track is.

“It's so exciting. It's quite overwhelming to be honest, to be in such a massive, beautiful oval knowing you're at the start line at the Olympic Games.

“It was definitely nerve-wracking - all the emotions, but really cool to be able to call myself an Olympian now.”

Smeding’s personal best over the distance is 1:57.62, set in Salt Lake City in December, one step on a remarkable road to the Games.

On the race, she said: “I think there were things that could have gone a bit better, but it was my debut and there were a lot of external things going on with nerves and stuff.

“For my first race, it was fine. You realise it's something you've dreamt about for so many years when you're on the start line, and you're like 'wow', but you also need to keep your cool and it's about finding a balance there.”

The Olympic record for 1500m was broken on the day, by Dutch star Ireen Wuust, who clocked 1:53.28.

Smeding is based in the Netherlands alongside partner Cornelius Kersten, who begins his own campaign over the same distance tomorrow.

Smeding has another chance to shine in China on 17 February and said: “I'm hoping to build on this and put down an even better performance in the 1000m.”