Kathryn Thomson is confident she can bounce back in style after failing to open her European Youth Olympic Winter Festival campaign with a final appearance in Romania.
Thomson, along with the three other members of the British short track speed skating team, was competing in the opening event of the Festival in Brasov but in her least preferred 1500m distance.
The 17-year-old, who has made senior World Cup and European Championship appearances for Britain this year, finished a long way clear in first in her to comfortably qualify for the semi-finals.
But, already nursing a niggling calf problem, Thomson struggled to keep pace in the next round and was to fall as the race entered the closing stages.
Thomson picked herself up to impress as Team GB qualified for the mixed relay semi-finals in comfortable fashion alongside Mari Deland, Jack Burrows and Aydin Djemal.
And, with her preferred individual event the 500m also next on the schedule, the diminutive Scot is adamant she will find her best form when it counts.
“The shoulder is a little bit sore but I think I’ll be OK and I’m looking forward to bouncing back in the 500m and skating a bit better,” said Thomson.
“I definitely prefer the shorter distances so the 1500m was a bit of a learning experience for me. I felt pretty good in the warm up and the ice looked fast so in my heat I was nice and relaxed and felt pretty confident.
“But in the semi-final I didn’t manage to go out and do what I needed to do, I got a bit tired and with a bad calf anyway my leg buckled and that was it, I went over.
“But it’s great to know that our relay is going well and I’m looking forward to seeing how far we can progress, I’m looking forward to the 500m as well now.”
© Sportsbeat 2013