Skating sensation Billie Harper claims big scalps at 2017 Australian inline speed skating championships

A YOUNG Arthurs Creek skating sensation can boast that she has as many national titles to match her age.

Billie Russell, 8, won eight events in her age groups at the 2017 Australian inline speed skating championships. Picture: Richard Serong

A YOUNG Arthurs Creek skating sensation can boast that she has as many national titles as she is years old.

Billie Russell, 8, secured a clean sweep of events in her age groups at the 2017 Australian inline speed skating championships in Adelaide earlier this year.

She won eight titles, starting with the 100m, 500m, 1000m and 1500m outdoor events for under-11 girls.

She also blitzed the field indoors to win the 300m time trial, 500m, 1000m and 1500m indoor events for under-10 girls.

Mother Leanne Russell said she and her husband were blown away by Billie’s success, which came two years after she first put on a pair of skates.

“We got an invitation to a party at the rink when she was in Prep and she’d never skated before. We put her in a set of hired rollerblades and off she went,” Mrs Russell said.

Mrs Russell said Billie trained up to six times a week with the Eltham Speed Skating Club at Eltham’s Skaterz rink and was hoping to become an Olympic champion.

But despite her amazing skating talent, Mrs Russell said Billie had her eyes fixed on emulating the success of Australian track cycling legend and Rio 2016 Olympics flag-bearer Anna Meares.

“We think she wants to be skater but (she) does have a road bike and is considering that as well. Skaters make good bike riders, too,” she said.

Billie has skated her way to a Diamond Valley Leader Junior Sports Star nomination.

The program is now a national celebration, and junior category winners will be judged for national awards.

Cash prizes, as well as vouchers from our sponsor Sportsmart, are up for grabs.

For full details and to nominate an athlete, go to localsportsstars.com.au