Christie looks to long track speed skating in bid for Olympic medal

Scot Elise Christie isn’t done yet with the Olympics – indeed she wants to target a medal in two sports in Beijing.

Speed skater Christie could be forgiven for wanting to turn her back on the five-ringed circus forever.

After Sochi and PyeongChang, she admits to occasionally feeling hatred for her sport.

And perhaps that’s why she’s looking at long track speed skating as a safer alternative to the dizzying dash of short track.

It pits skaters against the clock, not each other, and Christie admits she’d consider moving outside the UK to pursue the ambition.

Long track speed skating has been part of the Olympics since 1924 and is considered the sport of skating purists.

Short track is the younger sibling – an aggressive upstart that’s only been part of the Games since 1992, the last time Team GB had a long-track speed skater, Scot Craig McNicoll.

“It’s gone through my mind for many years and I’ve done it as part of my training,” said Christie.

“It’s an easier sport for sure, whoever goes the fastest wins and unless you make a silly mistake you aren’t going to get a penalty.

“Long track isn’t funded so I’d have to move aboard but it is certainly something that has crossed my mind.

“It’s a lot to think about but it’s still skating and that is the sport that I love.

“It’s not off the cards and I’ll be looking into it. If I did do it, I’d probably try and do both long and short track. I still want that Olympic medal in short track because its the only thing I don’t have. I would come back and do both happily.”

Christie’s injury means she will miss the defence of her world titles in Montreal next month – but she also claims her passion for the sport has almost been reinvigorated by the events of recent days.

But she also admits retirement was her plan, had she achieved here. Now that plan is on a four-year hold.

“I probably wanted to retire if I’m honest,” she added.

“I thought I’d medal and then I could step back because I’d achieved I wanted, maybe I could have a go at another sport.”

Elise Christie has medal target.