Ellia Smeding is confident of climbing the world rankings beyond Beijing after producing Team GB’s best ever Olympic result for a female speed skater.
Smeding finished 23rd in the women’s 1000m with a time of 1:17.17, 3.98 seconds behind Japanese gold medal winner and new Olympic record holder Miho Takagi.
It is the best result for a British woman since Mandy Horsepool's 26th in the 3000m at Lake Placid 1980 when she equalled the efforts of Trish Tripper in the same event in 1968.
Having now completed her first Olympic Games, Smeding believes, with a few minor adjustments, she can ascend the field and soon become a force to be reckoned with in the sport.
She said: “I’m only half a second off some of the girls that are normally a lot faster [than me], so I feel like I’m in there and ready to close that gap.
“I think just gaining experience at international level, improving some things technically and physically as well.
“If I have a couple of good months of training, I’ll be there.”
⛸ @ellia_smeding brings her Olympic debut to a close with a 23rd place finish in the women’s 1000m.#TeamGB | #Beijing2022 pic.twitter.com/MPI2agCxHp
— Team GB (@TeamGB) February 17, 2022
The 23-year-old finished 27th in the 1500m ten days ago and her partner and teammate Cornelius Kersten crossed the line 19th fastest in the men’s event.
Smeding hopes that the Netherlands-based couple’s performances will inspire a new generation of speed skaters in Great Britain and strengthen Team GB’s medal prospects in 2026.
“Now all I want to do is be here again and perform better than I have. I want to grow in the next four years and put a really solid ranking down,” said Smeding, who has relished her time in Beijing.
“Hopefully in those four years we’ll also get some other skaters involved - evolve the sport while we’re at it – I’m looking forward to it.
“I’ve had some really positive feedback so that’s been nice. Messages from back home and so many people having watched who wouldn’t have done otherwise.
“It’s been really positive, and I hope that people enjoyed watching us perform and might want to get involved in the future.”
All that remains for Smeding in the Chinese capital is to support partner Kersten when he competes in his preferred distance of 1000m on Friday.
She said: “All I can do is look back and think of it as a really positive experience. It’s so different to any event I’ve ever been to.
“It feels weird that it’s over now and I’ve done my races. There’s nothing more left to do than just enjoy it and support Cornelius – I’m looking forward to that.”