Christie sets the record straight
GREAT START: Christie ELISE CHRISTIE shrugged off first-night nerves as she smashed the Olympic record – then promised she will only get faster.
Christie, 27, admitted she was an emotional mess on the start-line in short-track speed skating’s 500m qualifiers.
She holds the world record at 42.335secs and is a two-time world silver medallist in the sprint discipline.
However, it was over
1,000m and 1,500m she claimed glory at last year’s World Championships, when she was crowned overall champion.
But she got in front of her rivals early to stay out of trouble and clock
42.872s, only for her Korean rival Minjeong Choi to fractionally bettered it just moments later.
It ensured Christie progressed to Tuesday’s medal races, with three knockout rounds between her and the chance to wipe out a forgettable last Olympic experience, when she fell twice and was also disqualified in Sochi in 2014.
“I’m just excited now, I hope I can beat my world record here, that would be awesome,” she said.
“Racing hasn’t gone well recently with injuries so I wanted to put a statement out to say, ‘I’m back’.
“I was so nervous before the race, it was like an Olympic final. I don’t think I’ve been as nervous as that for about six years.
“This is the first time most of the British public have seen me since Sochi and I obviously have small fears of that happening again.
“It’s just a relief and now I feel ready to focus on getting the job done.”
Christie was surprised at her draw, which pitted her against two medal rivals, with Korea’s Sukhee Shim – a silver and bronze medallist at the last Olympics – eliminated.
Christie’s Olympic record was the only thrill on a day otherwise dominated by spills for Team GB.
Snowboarders Billy Morgan, Jamie Nicholls and Rowan Coultas all took a tumble and failed to qualify for their final, as did Christie’s short-track team-mates Charlotte Gilmartin, Kathryn Thomson and Farrell Treacy.
Watch Elise Christie go for gold on Tuesday, February 13, on Eurosport 1. Don’t miss a moment of the Olympic Winter Games on Eurosport and Eurosport Player. Go to
www.eurosport.co.uk DOUBLE: Marshall scores his second LIAM MARSHALL raced in for the kill against Hull with two early tries in this historic Super League game.
But the winger, who has now got four tries in two games, still copped flak and a veiled warning from Shaun Wane.
The coach said: “He backed up that first try by dropping the kick-off and then made another error so there are things he needs to work on.
“I am happy with the win but we will not be celebrating too much.”
This game was played in Wollongong, Australia – the first time a Super League match has been held outside Europe
– and attracted a decent 12,416 crowd.
But the 24-degree heat and humidity spoilt it as a spectacle with both sides