Up-and-coming Dundee short track speed skater Murray Cochrane will step up to world level later this month as he strives to make it to the next Winter Olympics.
Murray (22) has been selected for four events in the World Cup series – two in Asia and two in Europe.
The competitions in China and Japan – where he will skate at 500m, 1,000m and 1,500m – will be held in front of capacity crowds where the sport is most popular.
“It will be a real buzz,” Murray said.
“There will be between 5,000 and 6,000 people watching.
“They really do love speed skating over there. If you’re competing over here you’re looking at about 100 who will be watching. It’s a big difference.”
The current short track season, which started in September, is Murray’s first as a senior.
The funding programme he is on (podium potential) maps out participation at the next Olympics, with the potential of medalling at the one after.
That’s a career target that Murray agrees with.
“I’m still only 22 and these will be my first senior World Cup races,” he explained.
“I’m not going there with expectations to win but I will be looking to learn as much as I can so I can win in the future.
“I’m a senior now and you don’t get selected if you don’t have the ability. I think I’ve stepped up massively with my training and attitude.
“I’ll be taking part in all three distances, but I would say that I’m strongest at the longer one.”
He added: “I’d like to think I’ll be pushing to be at the next Winter Olympics (in 2018). That’s a realistic goal.
“By then I’ll be getting near to the peak years for athletes in our sport.”
The trials and tribulations of Elise Christie at Sochi elevated speed skating’s profile in Britain, so there will be a bigger spotlight on her and the rest of the team when the South Korea Games come round.
“It certainly got a lot of publicity,” Murray said. “Obviously Elise would have wanted the publicity to be about her winning a medal but she will have learned a lot and is doing really well just now.
“Elise has generated a lot of interest, which will hopefully continue into the next Olympics.”
Christie-like disqualifications come with the territory in speed skating, according to Murray.
“She could have played it safer and made sure she got a bronze or silver but she was so focused on winning,” he said.
“I’ve been a victim of that at times as well.”
Murray, now based at Nottingham, took to the ice at a young age in Dundee.
“My grandad (Stuart Cochrane) used to take me ice skating once a week,” he recalled.
“And then I saw a demonstration of speed skating and that got me hooked.
“My grandad still jokes with me that he’s my agent and that he’s due 10% of everything I earn!”
Dundee has a strong history as far as skating (figure and speed) is concerned.
Murray, who can be followed on Twitter at @murraycochrane, said: “Olympic figure skaters have been based here and Elise used to skate in Dundee as well.
“There isn’t a speed skating club anymore though. I think I’m the last survivor of it.”