Appleby vows to keep improving after Olympics debut

Figure skater Ed Appleby is determined to keep pushing himself forward in the sport after an "incredible" experience at his first Winter Olympics.

The 21-year-old registered a season's best 69.68 in the team event at Milan-Cortina but later this year will have to fit in training alongside studying for a mathematics with computing degree.

It will be no mean feat as he lives in Colchester, but until now has been spending Monday to Friday 154 miles (247.8km) away at his Swindon training base.

"I've done performances that have been technically better, but the choreography I haven't performed as well as I could have done," he told BBC Look East.

"It showed now, having got a season's best, that we've been able to push everything up that bit more, keep on improving, keep on developing, and pushing myself as an athlete and a performer."

Although there were to be no medals, with Team GB's skating group failing to make the top five teams which advanced to the final round of the competition, Appleby was able to keep a promise to himself to try and enjoy every second.

"Even just stepping out on to the ice and skating over the Olympic rings for the first time was really incredible. I just tried to do my best and take in that moment and make the most of it," said Appleby, who was troubled by an ankle problem last year.

"I felt the nerves kick in before I even got on the bus to the venue, and from there I was nervous about wanting to do myself proud. I wanted to do a good skate and feel 'ok, that's my Olympics moment, now I'm an Olympian' with that performance.

"I knew to trust my training because we'd worked so hard on everything. We'd been going at it for so long. The practices had been going well, it was all smooth, so once the music started I just told myself 'I'm ready' and did what I needed to do."

His elder sister's desire to see the film Ice Princess led to Appleby becoming interested in skating at the age of four and a half.

"My parents took my older brother and me along as well and it kicked off from there," he said.

But now, having decided to focus full-time on the sport following his A levels and winning three successive British titles, he will have to continue alongside the revival of his academic studies.

"Hopefully finding that balance, I'll be able to work closely with the university to fulfil my sporting and career goals.

"I'm aiming to study with the University of Essex and I know they are very supportive with athletes, they work closely with netball and basketball teams, so I'll put my trust in them."

Appleby is staying on at the Games until the closing ceremony at the Verona Arena on 22 February, so what else has he enjoyed about his first Olympics?

He said: "It's been very different to the competitions I'm used to... the bit I liked the most was talking to the other GB athletes about their sports which we maybe don't have much contact with or knowledge about.

"For example, the speed skating. I really enjoy watching it, but don't understand the rules or all of the technical details, so it was fascinating to hear about their behind the scenes work, what a training day looks like for them compared to us, and figure out what everyone had to go through to get to where they are today."

Ed Appleby was speaking to BBC Look East's Susie Fowler-Watt