Hopes put on ice

Those of us who would find it hard to stay upright on a pair of ice skates, let alone hurtle round a track while being jostled and pushed by muscle-bound competitors, can only sympathise with the bad luck of Elise Christie at the Winter Olympics. The British skater was sent sprawling, crashed into the barriers and, to add insult to injury, was disqualified for clipping her Chinese rival, even as she was being taken off to hospital. A three-time world champion at the discipline, Christie clearly has the ability, but seems jinxed at the Olympics. In Sochi four years ago she was disqualified three times. But given the determination she has shown in South Korea, she doubtless has her eyes on making another attempt in Beijing in four years’ time.