Australian short track speed skaters, Pierre Boda and Julie Jung, have contested their first World Championships, held in Sheffield, England, last weekend.

Seventeen-year old Boda, from Camperdown in NSW, and Julie Jung, from Victoria, both contested the 500, 1000 and 1500 metre competitions.

Australian coach, Ann Zhang, said that the event was all about the gaining of experience for two athletes, both AIS scholarship holders, targeting the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi.

Boda achieved the best result, finishing 30th from 52 skaters in the 1500 metres competition, while taking 36th in the 1000 metres and 40th place in the 1500 metres. He was ranked 38th overall.

Jung who, like Boda, is also in her first year on the Australian team, had a best result of 32nd from 42 skaters in the 500 metre event. She was 33rd in the 1500, 35th in the 1000 metre competition, and 35th overall.

Korea was the dominant nation from the 31 countries represented, with their skaters winning both the overall Ladies’ and Mens’ titles.