Beijing 2022 - ‘I can still go a lot faster’ - How GB skater Cornelius Kersten went from brink of retirement to Olympics

Cornelius Kersten says he is pleased he listened to the “little voice” inside his head which told him not to retire from speed skating, as he prepares to make his Team GB debut at the Winter Olympics. The 27-year-old athlete, born to a British mother and Dutch father, was the first GB long track skater to be selected for a Games in 30 years — and he believes he can challenge the very best in Beijing and beyond. Ad/> But there have been moments where he has doubted whether he should continue.

Beijing 2022Thomson backing 'focused' year out to harden her for Beijing battle28/01/2022 AT 14:40 After missing out on Pyeongchang 2018, Kersten had a difficult couple of seasons, suffering concussion from a bike crash and a groin injury which caused him problems. It left him with doubts about whether chasing his dream was worth it. ‘There have been seasons where I was really unsure of what I should do,” Kersten told Eurosport.

“Those seasons, I probably enjoyed maybe three or four sessions that whole season and the rest was just trying to get through it. /> Kersten has had the season of his life, setting new national records and achieving historic bests. He finished fourth in the 1000m at the European Championships, Britain’s best-ever finish in 130 years of the competition, and he placed inside the top 10 at a World Cup event in Norway.