Short-track skater would have retired from sport if she won gold

ELISE Christie had planned to retire from short-track if she had managed to crown her career with an Olympic gold medal in Pyeongchang.

Christie was set on pursuing a future elsewhere - possibly in another sport such as cycling or skeleton - but her latest Games calamity has made her more determined than ever to reach the short-track podium.

The 27-year-old said: “I probably wanted to retire - I thought I’d medal and then I would have achieved all I’d wanted and maybe could have had a go at another sport.

“My last goal was to be Olympic champion - there was nothing else to do if I’d achieved that here.

“It didn’t work out and, while I’ve thought about other sports, my heart lies with short-track.

“As much as I hate the sport too at some points, at the same time I’ve worked so hard to be here and I’m getting better and faster every year. I’ve got four years to make sure I’m on that podium.”

Christie’s defiant attitude comes in striking contrast to her post-Sochi misery when, assailed by death threats from South Korean fans, it often seemed unthinkable she would commit to another Olympic cycle. But, while plenty more tears came with her latest trio of disappointments culminating in a doubledisqualification from the 1000m heats on Tuesday Christie has also exuded a selfconfident and positive attitude.

“The focus is definitely on Beijing - obviously there will be speed-bumps over the next few months and I still can’t believe the Olympics has ended like this,” Christie, pictured, added.