SPEED SKATING: Desly Hill has enjoyed many accolades throughout her career, but for the Australian Speed Skating coach, the true highlight may be yet to come. 

Before becoming a coach, Hill was a talented athlete, winning 17 World Championship medals and becoming a four-time World Champion in inline skating. 

“I lived in America for four years when I was racing,” Hill recalls. “A couple of my inline teammates crossed over to ice and got Olympic medals.” 

“Eventually I thought I should study and really get into it. As an athlete you are pretty selfish so although most of my focus is still on sport I like that I can give something back to others.” 

Hill tried the crossover to ice herself but couldn’t afford it so she retired and decided to pursue a Masters degree in coaching through the University of Queensland and the Australian Institute of Sport. As part of her study, she completed a thesis comparing the coaching methods for inline and ice skating. 

After coaching inline skating for seven years, Hill got a job in the Netherlands working with the Dutch National team. For a country whose national obsession is the ice sport of speed skating, Hill saw an opening. 

“I noticed that because of the Dutch culture, I would never get them to win at inline, unless I learned about ice skating too. 

“When I first arrived here we aimed for a top five at the European inline championships and this year we won 15 gold. Five of those skaters that I have worked with became Winter Olympians on ice.” 

It was in 2008, that Hill hatched a daring plan – to form Australia’s first long track speed skating program. 

Although Australia has a proud tradition of Olympic speed skaters including the nation’s first Winter Olympian Kenneth Kennedy, and the longest serving Winter Olympian Colin Coates – until Hill there had only been individual athletes and never a coordinated program. 

Whilst continuing to coach the Dutch, Hill recruited some of her own Australian inline athletes to join her in Holland and make the switch to the ice. 

“I saw skaters (friends) cross over and in Holland I had a dream to see skaters utilise their talents across both inline and ice, and achieve their goals in both sports,” Hill said. 

“At that stage half of my Dutch team was doing it and I had the means to help some Aussies as well. I love that I can help Aussies do what I wanted to but could not manage, it's awesome.” 

As the Vancouver 2010 Games approached, Hill’s plan bloomed. With just over a year of training, Sophie Muir was selected for the Olympic Team, becoming Australia’s first female speed skater in history. Hill’s other bright young student, Daniel Greig, missed making his Games debut by just 0.07 seconds. 

“I said to Daniel – don’t worry, it’s 1500 days until the next one. There you will be in the hunt for a good performance.” 

The pair have continued to work together tirelessly over the last four years and it has paid dividends. 

“Daniel and I work together with Gerard van Velde, a Dutch Olympic Champion, who has an ice team including Michel Mulder, the Dutch sprint World Champion,” Hill said. 

“In summer Michel and Dan spend most of their time with me and in winter they skate together on ice mostly with Gerard. Gerard knows how it feels and has achieved what they are chasing after. To be the best in the world you have to skate with the best and that's something I cant’ provide alone.” 

Greig will head to Sochi in February fresh off the back of winning two Word Sprint Speed Skating Championship silver medals, and placing third overall. 

“Last year history was made where one of my Dutch athletes managed a world title in both inline and ice skating. I have worked with him for eight years so I saw it from beginning to the end. I believe in it and I plan on helping others do the same - Daniel is next!” 

At 22 years of age, Greig will be one of the youngest speed skaters at the Sochi Olympics and his rise in the sport has been rapid. 

“I'm always pushing my athletes to keep a winning attitude and never lose sight of that big picture,” Hill said. “I guess they have to trust me and be prepared to give up who they are for what they might become.” 

For Greig, the big picture will become a reality when he takes to the ice on Day 3 of the Sochi Games. It will be a dream come true for the young Victorian skater and for his coach it will be the chance to see years of insight and dedication come together in one big moment. 

Read more about Daniel Greig and his journey to Sochi here>>>