CHARLOTTE Gilmartin savoured a silver medal at the European Speed Skating Championships in Sochi.

The Redditch star was second overall at the event in Russia behind fellow Great Britain team-mate Elise Christie.

Gilmartin was rewarded for a series of consistent displays in Minsk, which culminated in second place in the 3,000m super-final.

This gave Charlotte enough points to finished the second overall for the championship and a one-two in the European rankings for Great Britain alongside Christie.

Gilmartin said: “I am really happy to come away with my first overall medal in the European Championships here in Sochi. The team support has been incredible and been a real team effort.

"To take first place in the final race of the championship topped off a remarkable championship for me.”

Charlotte Gilmartin also performed strongly in the 500m and 1500m, finishing sixth and seventh places respectively.

She narrowly missed out on the 1500m A final following a very close semi, following up with an excellent skate winning the B final.

It’s been so far so good this season for Gilmartin with a World Cup bronze from the Shanghai World Cup already in the bag ahead of this weekend’s European Championships.

But she says there is no pressure as she looks to keep improving ahead of the World Championships later this year and, ultimately, PyeongChang Winter Olympics in 2018.

“It’s a big year for us all this year with the European and then World Championships and I would love to move up the world rankings and into the top ten," she added.