Page 66 - Redditch People

Redditch People

The 25 year old athlete was born and brought up in Redditch and comes from Winyates.

Charlotte's ability was first spotted at a skating party! She was soon on her way to
becoming one of Britain's finest short track skaters. While still at Arrow Vale High School,
she began representing Great Britain as a junior, progressing through the ranks to
compete at senior level on the world stage.

Sport has always been important to her for, prior to her taking up speed skating, she
played roller hockey for Redditch Rockets and, after leaving school, she studied Sports
Development and Fitness B Tech at Loughborough College.

Charlotte has represented Great Britain in many international competitions and has
travelled to China, Canada, Russia and many European countries.

Her favourite distance is 500m as she says there is less room for error in this event.
However, in the 2012/13 season she won an individual bronze medal in the 1500m at the
European Championships in Malmo. Charlotte considers her best achievement was in
2008 when she won a gold medal at the European Championships as part of the British
3000m relay team.

Having just lost out for a place in the 2010 Winter Olympics, Charlotte was selected to
represent GB at the Sochi Olympics in Russia. She took part in the 500m and 1500m
events.

She faced stiff competition in both events and finished fifth in her heat in the 1500m. She
has used this experience to improve on her skills as a short track speed skater.

In 2014 Charlotte brought home three silver medals from the European Star Class
competition in Germany. In January 2015 she became the 2014/15 Ladies British National
silver medallist in all three distances (500m, 1000, and 1500m) at the British
Championships at Nottingham National Ice rink, coming in a very close second to Elise
Christie.

Today Charlotte is based in Nottingham which allows her to train at the National Ice
Arena. She still races for the Solihull Mohawks Ice Racing Club, however. Her ambition
now is to win an Olympic medal at the next winter Olympics in 2018 at Pyeongchang in
South Korea.

Page: 66 © RLHS 2015