Beijing 2022 - Speed skater Ellia Smeding a late pick as Team GB confirm 50 athletes for Winter Olympics

Speed skater Ellia Smeding has been confirmed as the final British athlete to be selected for the Winter Olympics, with Team GB announced a squad of 50 for the Beijing Games. The 23-year-old will join her partner, Cornelius Kersten, as the first British long track speed skaters to compete at an Olympics for 30 years, after laying down a number of personal bests throughout the season.

She will line up in the 1000m and 1500m — and becomes Britain's first female skater to represent the team in 42 years at a Games. Ad/> Like Kersten, Smeding has a mix of British and Dutch parents and having grown up in the UK, she moved to the Netherlands as a child and find a love for skating.

Beijing 2022Who is representing Team GB at the Beijing Winter Olympics?21/01/2022 AT 15:49 «Being part of Team GB in Beijing is an absolute dream come true,» she said. «This season has gone really well so far, and I’m hoping to put my best races down at the Games.

/> Among the other Team GB athletes lining up at the Games will be Dave Ryding, who became the first British alpine skier to win a World Cup event at the weekend. World snowboard cross champion Charlotte Bankes will be a medal hope, as will Bruce Mouat in the men's and mixed curling, while Brad Hall's bobsleigh team have been consistent medallists throughout the season.