Beijing Olympics 2022 - ‘Athlete life can be lonely, we’re really lucky’ - Team GB's Cornelius Kersten and Ellia Smeding

Move over Laura and Jason Kenny — there is a new Team GB Olympic couple to focus on in the coming weeks, when Cornelius Kersten and Ellia Smeding become Britain’s first long track speed skaters in 30 years. They will be a breath of fresh air in Beijing as two athletes who are grounded and know sport is not the most important thing in life.

Kersten has shrugged off talk of “pressure” by saying people have more important things to worry about, and as largely unfunded athletes, they have fuelled their push for the Games by setting up what has become a successful coffee company. Ad/> 'Team Cornellia' (as Smeding has dubbed on Instagram) have similar backgrounds — both were born to a Dutch father and an English mother and have spent most, if not all, of their lives in the Netherlands, where speed skating is a huge sport.

They both have a desire to boost its profile in the UK, and hope that could lead to Britain’s first long-track rink. Kersten has spoken of Elise Christie being an inspiration for how she did something similar for short track — and he wants to replicate that.

Beijing 2022Ryding's heroics inspiring speed skater Treacy ahead of debut shot at Olympic GamesYESTERDAY AT 12:40 It is clear when talking to the couple that it is no coincidence they have both had the season of their lives at the same time. National records have been crushed by both of them and top 10 finishes have been achieved at some of the biggest events on the circuit.

Neither believe they have reached anywhere near their full potential, and it seems being able to support each other all year round — whether in work, training or competition — has been crucial, particularly during a pandemic which has brought isolation for so many. “We’re really lucky