OXFORD’S Tash Nemeth-Knight cannot hide her excitement at being selected for Great Britain’s Short Track Speed Skating Academy.

The 17-year-old beat off competitors from across the country to make the elite group of 11 athletes.

Nemeth-Knight, who learnt to skate at Oxford Ice Rink under the guidance of coach Tammy Sear, was previously a figure-skater, competing in national championships.

And the Cherwell School pupil is thrilled her switch of discipline has paid off.

She said: “It’s still quite surreal for me to have got through all the stages to get here.

“I’m really excited about the future and am learning so much already.

“I am hoping this inspires younger children from Oxfordshire to take up short-track speed skating.”

Nemeth-Knight applied to join Need4Speed last autumn, a talent programme aimed at 15-18-year-olds for the new academy.

It is designed for skaters with potential to join the world class programme.

Nemeth-Knight was one of 70 applicants who went through four months of rigorous speed, strength, flexibility, stamina and psychological aptitude assessments.

The teenager excelled to make the academy, which is a camp-based programme and involves training twice a week at Mohawks Ice Racing Club in Solihull, as well as once a month in Sheffield and Nottingham.

Academy manager, Jon Eley, said: “We have a fantastic group of skaters that will make this programme a successful one.”