Short track speed skater Kathryn Thomson admits she is looking to follow in the footsteps of her senior compatriots when she takes to the Sofia ice for the Europa Cup Final.
Thomson represented Team GB at the European Youth Olympic Winter Festival in Romania in February 2013, winning 500m silver.
The 18-year-old formed part of the British women’s 3000m relay quartet that set a new national record at a World Cup event in Seoul on October 4.
But this weekend Thomson turns her attentions to the Europa Cup Final, the climax of the six Star Class Cup competitions that have taken place through the season.
Thomson has already medalled at a Star Class event this season and she insists the medal winning performances of Elise Christie and Great Britain’s men’s relay squad, who claimed silver and bronze respectively at last weekend’s World Championships in Montreal, gives her the added inspiration to climb the podium in Sofia.
“I’m pleased with how my season has gone so far, but seeing how well the team did in Montreal last week has really motivated me to do my best in Sofia,” she said.
“It’s great to have girls like Elise [Christie] and Charlotte [Gilmartin] on the squad. They’re both so strong on the international circuit and seeing Elise get a silver medal was really inspiring.”
Competing alongside Thomson over all three distances are brothers Farrell and Niall Treacy, 16-year-old Jack Burrows and Isabelle Roberts, who is competing in the Junior C category for skaters 15 and under.
Performance Director Stuart Horsepool added: “For these skaters the Europa Cup is about building experience in an international race environment.
“They will be looking to work on the process of racing and developing skills which will help them in the future, rather than being outcome orientated at this early stage of their careers.”
© Sportsbeat 2014