Charlotte Hayward

Injuries	She fractured her ankle in two places in a training session in July 2021. She returned to the ice in September 2021. (Instagram profile, 07 Sep 2021) She sprained her ankle in January 2020 following a fall in training, which led to her spending time in a protective boot. She recovered in time to compete at the 2020 World Cup event in Dordrecht, Netherlands. (Instagram profile, 17 Feb 2020, 19 Jan 2020) She broke her ankle in 2017 and was out of action for most of the 2017/18 season. She returned to training on the ice in January 2018 and competed at the British national championships in March that year. (ntu.ac.uk, 01 Mar 2019; Twitter profile, 31 Mar 2018, 31 Jan 2018)
Memorable sporting achievement	Finishing fifth overall at the 2019 Star Class 6 tournament in Bergamo, Italy, which included a second place finish in the 500m event. (ntu.ac.uk, 01 Mar 2019)

Reason for choosing this sport

"I tried a [short track introduction] session and was completely hooked. I entered my first competition as soon as possible and have continued skating all these years. When we moved back to England my closest club, Mohawks Ice Racing Club, was in Birmingham which was over 70 miles away from home. Due to the passion I had for the sport I made the trek twice a week, every week, to be able to continue training."

Ambitions

To compete at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing. (ntualumni.org.uk, 01 Jul 2019; ntu.ac.uk, 01 Mar 2019)

When and where did you begin this sport?

She discovered short track when her parents moved the family from England to Ottawa, ON, Canada. She would skate regularly at a local ice rink, where she was handed a promotional brochure for a short track club ahead of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver.

Other information

SELF-FUNDED In mid-2018 UK Sport stopped funding the Great Britain short track and speed skating programme for the 2022 Olympic cycle. She is part of a self-funded Great Britain elite training squad and turned to online fundraising in order to support her training and competition costs. "My parents are fantastic with their support but I'd like to spread the funding base wider if I can by using social media." (national-ice-centre.com, 27 Mar 2019; gofundme.com, 02 Jan 2019) FURTHER EDUCATION She has studied for a master's degree in molecular cell biology at Nottingham Trent University in England. (Instagram profile, 12 Jan 2021)

www.facebook.com/charlotte.hayward.77736
twitter.com/charlottehay17

Hero / Idol

British short track skater Elise Christie. (Sports Aid, 06 Jan 2015)

Name of coach

Richard Shoebridge [national], GBR