Thirteenth birthday parties aren’t usually the type of events known for fostering future Olympians but for one of Britain’s best short track speed skaters that’s exactly how her journey to the top began.
Charlotte Gilmartin was 12 when she went to her best friend’s ice skating party and her life changed forever after her talent was spotted.
As an active child Gilmartin had dabbled in a host of different sports but it wasn’t until she took to the ice that she knew she was home.
From that point on the youngster dedicated herself to the craft and, after three years, she had made the national team and relocated to Nottingham to ensure she was getting the best training possible.
“It’s been a long time since I started at that birthday party but I haven’t looked back since then really,” said Gilmartin.
“I fell in love with the sport instantly really and I changed schools from Redditch to Nottingham so that I could train.
“That was maybe a bit too early and I maybe should have waited a bit but I was so in love with the sport that I just wanted to do well.”
It’s fair to say the 25-year-old done a little more than ‘well’ in her career having claimed 1500m bronze at the European Championships in 2013 before competing for Team GB at the Winter Olympics in Sochi.
While Gilmartin took European bronze Elise Christie claimed the gold medal and has since gone on to win the overall European title in 2015 and three world silver medals.
The pair are of a similar age and, while Christie might have taken the plaudits of late, Gilmartin says she is on her own path.
“From a girl’s point of view it would be great to inspire girls to take up the sport and I think with people like Elise doing so well the profile is there for people to want to access the sport,” she added.
“Elise is a similar age to me and has won so much already but I feel like year on year I am improving and just moving at a different pace and I’m on my own journey.
“I feel like now I am at a point where I am the best I have been and it is all starting to come together for me on the ice.
“It’s been a long time since I started in the sport but I still feel like there is a long way to go for me.
“I want to push as hard as I can and go against the best girls in the world.
“Luckily some of those are in Britain and working with people like Elise pushes me on and I want to challenge myself against the best and beat them. I think it is a testament to our programme though that we have such strength in depth.”
It’s been so far so good this season for Gilmartin with a World Cup bronze from the Shanghai World Cup already in the bag ahead of this weekend’s European Championships.
But she says there is no pressure as she looks to keep improving ahead of the World Championships later this year and, ultimately, PyeongChang in 2018.
“It’s a big year for us all this year with the European and then World Championships and I would love to move up the world rankings and into the top ten.
“For the European Championships I am happy to go there and get more experience this year building into what will be the second half of the Olympic cycle.”
Sportsbeat 2016