Four Loughborough College names are amongst the latest athletes to earn selection for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games.
Speed skaters and current students Kathryn Thomson and Farrell Treacy together with former students Elise Christie and Joshua Cheetham will represent Great Britain in South Korea in February.
Elise Christie was recently named Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year and was a finalist for the BBC’s 2017 Sports Personality of the Year – the first ever short track speed skater nominated. She is joined by fellow College name and Olympic debutante Kathryn and by Charlotte Gilmartin for the 500m, 1000m and 1500m
Kat said: “It feels amazing and incredible to be selected. I'm so proud to be able to say I'll be representing Team GB at the Games. I am looking forward to being part of something so huge, with big crowds and support, I know it will be a great experience.”
Male athletes Farrell Treacy and Josh Cheetham are both also making their Olympic debut and take the Team GB’s speed-skate contingent up to five.
Loughborough College student Farrell said: “It's a dream come true, it’s something I've always wanted since starting Short Track Speed Skating. It's been an aim for me to get to the Games particularly in the last four years since Sochi. There has been heartache and success along the way, so it feels amazing to be selected.”
Josh added: “It feels surreal, I've wanted this from such a young age, and I'll be doing it for myself, my family as well as Great Britain. I feel a lot of pride, and responsibility to do my best and enjoy it. Short Track is the biggest sport in Korea, and they have such enthusiasm for it so I'm looking forward to seeing how they present it to the world.”
This will be Elise’s third Winter Olympics and after being disqualified in three events in Sochi 2014, this year saw her crowned triple world champion - the first ever European woman to achieve this - and she has her sights set on gold in PyeongChang.
"It's amazing to be a part of Team GB again for the third time. It's like coming together as a massive family every four years, and just to get another chance - after what happened in Sochi - is incredible. I'm so excited.
"Becoming a triple world champion was a serious redemption and now I just feel like I want to go out and enjoy an Olympics, and I go in there with a lot of belief and confidence.
"I feel like I have so much support behind me, so I feel super-excited to go out there and try and win that gold medal but Sochi is totally gone [from my mind] now.
"I'm perfectly capable of winning a gold medal. I know my sport is crazy so it might not happen but that is definitely the target.
“Hopefully, I come home with more than one but I will do my best for sure to try and get out there and win a gold."
Pictured: Two of four Loughborough College names selected to represent Britain at the 2018 Winter Olympics, Farrell Treacy and Josh Cheetham in action