The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Scottish speed skater aiming for more than medal at Winter Games
Winter Olympics: Speed skater aiming for more than a medal
Elise Christie is something of a big deal in South Korea – which might just give her a glimpse into how life might change in the days ahead.
Christie is Team GB’s hottest medal favourite after her three gold medals at last year’s World Championships.
Short track speed skating is a serious business in South Korea. The country regularly top the medal table and have won 21 of their 26 Winter Olympic golds in the sport.
Organisers have been criticised for sluggish ticket sales – sell-out sessions at the short track being the exception.
“It’s a national sport, you get treated like a different type of human being here, it’s what is going to make these Games so special,” said Christie, who has been training on the ice since arriving in the athletes’ village last weekend.
“You get stuff thrown at you – nice things like teddy bears – and someone gave me a mug with my face on once, which was a bit surreal.”
Four years ago Christie saw the darker side of that sporting passion, when she received death threats after colliding with Korean favourite Park Seung-hi.
It was a low point of a Games experience to forget – two falls and a disqualification, but then again this is a sport where best-laid plans are always subject to change.
She admitted she lost her motivation for the sport in the days afterwards, before work with a psychologist restored her confidence.
This time around Korea’s Shim Suk-hee is expected to be Christie’s biggest rival and, she insists, just winning a medal won’t be enough.
“I don’t look at medal targets and listen to other people’s expectations,” she added. “I really want to win and I believe in myself and what I’m doing. Perhaps I didn’t have the self-belief before. I’m confident now but I’m not desperate either.
“I’ve always had the physical ability but the World Championship last year proved I had the mental ability too. The change was my mindset, the mental edge was the difference. I think I surprised myself and quite a few of my competitors too. I’m not saying I’m going to win a gold but that’s the intention. I’ve not trained this hard not to give myself that opportunity, if I get a penalty on the last lap pushing for first place then so be it.”
If Christie is burdened by the expectation then she is doing a good job of hiding it. Working with a psychologist has given her a renewed sense of purpose, she’s embracing the pressure and determined that she won’t be defined by the tears of four years ago.
“I’ve found ways to relax, take my mind off skating. My house looks like a show home, I just love cleaning, I think I’ve got a problem actually,” she jokes.
“I don’t want to be remembered as that girl who was bullied on the internet at the Olympics. I want people to remember me for my sport and my achievements.”
Elise Christie can be seen competing live and on demand across Eurosport channels. The Olympic Winter Games is available on Eurosport, the Eurosport App (available on IOS, Android and Windows devices), and online at eurosport.co.uk/olympics.