Elise plays down early redemption
Christie cool on 1500m
ONe medal got away from elise Christie and she is doing a curious job of talking down her chances of the next.
It has been noticeable in the two days since her bid for 500 metres gold ended in tears that Christie has only discussed next week’s assault on the 1,000m, and barely uttered a word about the job in hand, which is tomorrow’s 1500m.
that has jarred somewhat given that she is the reigning world champion at both distances, and she surprisingly went further yesterday by playing down her gold medal prospects in the discipline entirely.
It rings of being a defence mechanism in the wake of being so visibly distraught after falling in the last lap of the 500m final on tuesday, but she claimed yesterday, in her first interviews since the crash, that she has dusted herself off.
Referencing messages of support from Jessica ennis-Hill and Kelly Holmes, she said: ‘I picked myself up the next day (after the 500m final). I’ve had so much support from back home, which is incredible.
‘I’ve heard from Jessica ennis and Kelly Holmes and they are my two biggest heroes. It’s overwhelming they’ve messaged me.’
Christie ( below) is carrying the baggage of three disqualifications in Sochi 2014, but said: ‘this is a total opposite feeling to Sochi and I feel ready to go again.
‘ I’m super focused for the 1,000m, which is my last event, because that’s my favourite and best distance. I’m just getting back on track for that and I’ll still be racing fearless.
‘I know I can do well in the 1500m but it’s never a distance that I focus on. It’s about having a race and getting ready for the 1,000m.
‘However, I know I’m capable of winning a medal in it because I’m the world champion at 1500m too.’
Christie had been expected to lead the British medal effort here but that now falls on the skeleton riders. Dom Parsons was chasing a medal in the early hours of this morning after sitting fourth following his first two runs, while Lizzy Yarnold, the defending women’s champion, and Laura Deas get started today.
Deas, who has outshone Yarnold in the build- up, said: ‘ I would be disappointed if I left without a medal. that’s just a fact. I’m incredibly proud to represent team GB and become an Olympian but I want to go one step further and be a medallist as well.’
Andrew Musgrave will this morning chase a podium finish in the 15km freestyle cross-country skiing. He will be up against Pita taufatofua, the half-naked tongan flag-bearer from the opening ceremony, who has declared his primary intention is to ‘ finish before dark and not hit any trees’.
eve Muirhead’s curling team bounced back from a 7-4 defeat by the USA earlier yesterday with a suddendeath 8-7 win over China. GB’s women’s side have now won two of their three roundrobin fixtures.
elsewhere, American skiing sensation Mikaela Shiffrin, 22, won the giant slalom. Britain’s Alex tilley crashed out. Annika taylor finished down in 75th in the women’s 10km crosscountry skiing.