Charlotte Gilmartin believes her competitors will see a much more relaxed skater on the ice this season following on from her Olympic bow earlier this year.
Gilmartin missed out on selection for Vancouver 2010 but made it second time lucky when she represented Team GB at Sochi 2014 in February.
The 24-year-old competed in the heats of the 1500m and reached the quarter-final of the 500m – a distance she won bronze in at the European Championships in Malmo in 2013.
Next week sees the new season start with the World Cup in Salt Lake City with Gilmartin already having got in some practice last month, finishing fifth overall at the Invitation Cup in Heerenveen and second at the Star Class event in Dresden.
And while the next Olympics in Pyeongchang is not for another four years, Gilmartin believes she will be much better prepared for what comes her way.
“I so wanted to be the on the Sochi team and I was so worried I was not going to get in, and it got to me in the qualifying competition,” she said.
“I think now having that experience and finally getting to make a Games will help me for four years time.
“It was a massive learning curve for me the whole experience of Sochi but getting on the ice actually felt so normal and I was actually relaxed.
“It’s the same athletes you race against all the time and it didn’t feel any different.
“Hopefully now the pressure is off I will be able to qualify in a better position. I really tried to absorb everything about Sochi and enjoy it and then come Pyeongchang I will be in a much stronger position and can put in an even better performance.
“Every race you go to is important, from a learning point of view and it’s always important to show my progression. I want to be in the top eight constantly and I’m looking forward to this season.”
© Sportsbeat 2014