CAFE BRITS GRINDING OUT GOLD BLEND BID
ELLIA SMEDING and Cornelius Kersten are full of beans heading into their first Winter Games.
And the girlfriendboyfriend duo, who own a coffee business, wouldn’t mind becoming long-track speed-skating’s answer to cycling’s golden couple Laura and Jason Kenny.
“I don’t think it will be gold medals just yet, but you never know in the future,” said Smeding, 23.
“For me, it’s just amazing to get this opportunity and maybe reach that level.”
Kersten, who is four years her senior, said: “Everyone dreams of a gold medal, but that’s something you can’t control or influence.
“I just want to go there and put down the best race I’ve ever done and leave it all on the ice.”
It has been 30 years since Britain had a long-track speed-skater in the men’s events at the Winter Olympics, when Craig McNicholl raced in Albertville.
And you have to go back a further 12 years to Lake Placid for our last competitors in the women’s events, in Kim Ferran and Mandy Horsepool.
So Smeding and Kersten — both of whom have British mothers and Dutch fathers and are Holland-based — are keen to raise the profile of their sport.
Both will compete in the 1,000m and 1,500m events.
Kersten added: “Long track is such a beautiful sport and it’s actually a very British sport if you look at the history of it.
“If we can just inspire a few people to get involved, then we will be happy.”
Smeding said: “It’s a difficult sport, there are so many components to it.
“You need to be explosive, powerful and strong, but you also need to have the coordination to make the right moves to generate the speed in the first place.”
Kersten will likely have to beat Norwegian stars Thomas Krol, Kai Verbij, Kjeld
Nuis and Harvard Lorentzen, and 17-year-old American sensation Jordan Stolz, to be in with a chance.
While American Brittany Bowe will be the athlete to beat in the women’s races.
Smeding added: “I just want to perform for my level. I’m a bit younger. I want to beat as many as I possibly can, but I’m not focused on one person or another.”
The pair started their own coffee business after Kersten fell in love with a particular blend while skating in Japan and couldn’t find any back home in Holland.
He said: “We started using one passion to fuel the other passion really and that’s how our company Brew 22 started.
“Both of us were unfunded athletes, so we needed to find a way to earn the extra money.”
Smeding added: “We’re best friends so working together isn’t a problem.
“He keeps me away from the numbers and I keep him away from the creative side.”