She may be one of the younger skaters in her age category but underestimate Olivia Weedon at your peril.

The Twickenham-based short track speed skater has enjoyed a highly successful 12 months on the ice, that started by winning all three races at the British National Championships in January.

More was to come in March as the Aldwych Speed Skating Club skater returned from the Europa Cup Final in Germany with a bronze medal around her neck from the 500m race.

It was an impressive way to round off her career in the Ladies Junior D category, with the 13-year-old working hard over the summer in preparation for moving up an age group to Junior C circuit.

And while the first half of the 2015/16 season has provided it’s fair share of challenges for Weedon – most notably in the form of competitors who are older and more experienced than her – she has not shirked away from trying to improve her all round skating.

“Looking back at 2015 my highlight was probably getting a Europa Cup medal in the 500m,” explained the SSE Next Generation athlete.

“I went into the competition as one of the bottom seeds, I didn’t think I was going to get higher than middle of the category."

“I was happy to just simply qualify for the A final and then when I got a medal I was even happier."

“Last year I was the top of my age group and you’re in the age group for two years. So this year I moved up and it’s harder as I’m racing girls that are much bigger than me. Going to competitions, I’ve been trying new things to see how I could do."

“Unfortunately I did get a few penalties but I was learning and I was competitive with girls who came second and third in the competitions which last year or the year before I wouldn’t have thought I would ever have been close to that.”

In her most recent outing at the start of the month, Weedon suffered a number of falls in the Star Class event in Hasselt, Belgium, which left her 17th overall."

But rather than get disheartened the rising star – whose aunt Jo and uncle Jon have both skated at multiple Winter Olympics – insists it is only driving her on to bigger things.

“In my most recent competition, I didn’t do as well as I hoped I would. I fell over quite a few times so I’m just hoping that my next competition goes much better and I get into an A or B final,” she added.

“If you look at results they get better and better each year and I just want to be that next person to get that much better."

"I started speed skating because I grew up around people that were going training on Mondays and Wednesdays so I just wanted to have a go and take it on from there and be like them."

“My aunt has inspired me to do well. When I became the national champion I was proud to be able to fulfil what she did.”

SSE’s Next Generation programme partners with SportsAid to provide financial support and training to the sports stars of the future. Keep up to date with the latest @SSENextGen