A member of Ayrshire Flyer’s Speed Skating Club has been competing for Team GB at the Winter Olympics.

Kathryn Thomson is a British Champion and trains with the Flyer’s at Auchenharvie Ice Rink and was selected to compete in Beijing.

This will be her second Olympics having been part of the 2018 team in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

She was called up to the national squad to compete in the 500m, 1000m and 1500m Short Track.

Only the top 32 skaters in the world qualify to skate each distance so it is an achievement in itself to qualify for all three.

Prior to the pandemic Kathryn’s progress had been very good with some excellent results including a fifth place finish in the 500m at the Europeans.

The 26-year old also picked up an eight place finish at the same distance in the World Championship.

Unfortunately, it was not a great start for the Irvine-born skater as she crashed out at the first stage of her 500m heat.

Thompson took off for the start of the race against her other three competitors and was right on the heels of the trio.

However, disaster struck after exiting the first corner, as Thompson fell over and slammed into the crash barrier at the edge of the rink.

The Flyer’s member pounded her fists in frustration on the ice having only lasted 15 seconds before her tumble.

The Scot skater said after the race she was disappointed the officials did not restart the race, as they can do after an early fall.

Thomson said: “I got a really good start but then I felt hands on my legs and the next thing I was on the ground

“I’m a bit annoyed that the officials didn’t call us back but I need to review that.”

However, despite her early set back she still has a chance of reaching the podium, with the 100m and 1500m events still to come this week.

Ayrshire Flyer’s club coach Archie Marshall still believes his skater has what it takes to reach the podium.

He said: “Short Track is a tough and very competitive sport and though Kathryn is not one of the medal favourites, if she gets it right in the day she has the talent and ability to be on the Olympic podium.”