Ellia Smeding - Long Track Speed Skater

Discipline: Long Track Speed Skating

Distances: 1000m & 1500m

Dates competing: 7th & 17th February

Age: 23

1st Olympics

Instagram: @elliasmeding

Twitter: @ellia_smeding

The last time a female long track skater represented Team GB was at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid. Ellia Smeding will end that 42 year wait when she stands on the start line in Beijing.

Her World Cup qualifying was littered with personal best performances, smashing British records throughout. Over the course of 7 days in December she set new national records in each of the 500m, 1000m and 1500m.

Her 8th place finish in the European Championships was the perfect warm-up for the Games.

Alongside her skating she runs a coffee business with Cornelius Kersten, a fellow Team GB long track skater.

When is Ellia racing?

Monday 7th Feb

08:30 - 09:50 - Women’s 1500m

Thursday 17th Feb

08:30 - 09:42 - Women’s 1000m