Former Team GB Winter Olympics star Elise Christie announces shock retirement U-turn on live TV

Former Team GB star Elise Christie announces her shock decision to make a u-turn on retiring from speed skating after just two months – having watched on from the sidelines at the 2022 Winter Olympics.

The triple world champion, retired from speed skating after enduring a number of injuries which saw her fail to qualify for the Winter Olympics in China this year having  finished behind fellow Scot Kathryn Thomson in qualifying last month.

Christie competed at the last three Winter Olympics but never won a medal after being disqualified in all three of her events at Sochi 2014, then a further two at Pyeongchang 2018, as well as a fourth-place finish.

Christie originally retired from speed skating two months ago after enduring a number of injuries and missing out on Beijing

Elise Christie told BBC Sport while covering the Olympics: ‘Watching the 500m event the other day, i’ve made a vow that i’m going to do everything that i can to try get back out at the next one.

‘I’m not going to be skating the 1,500m though, that’s a promise.

‘I’ve already been talking to Sarah (Sarah Lindsay), i need to get back in shape, she’s very experienced in that and i’ve had discussions with Nick (Nick Gooch) who was on the other day.

Christie competed at the last three Winter Olympics but never won a medal after being disqualified in all three of her events at Sochi 2014 

‘I’m going to have to go abroad realistically, be self-funded, and i am figuring all of that out.

‘I need some time to do that, but i am definitely going to start getting back into shape, i’ve had three months of eating cookies.’    

The Scot’s Olympic debut at the 2010 Vancouver Games ended with three finishes outside the top 10.

In Sochi in 2014, she was disqualified in all three of her events. She reached the A final in the 500m but was judged to have caused a crash.

She was then disqualified in the 1,500m heats for not crossing the finish line – instead running 1cm wide – and the 1,000m semi-final for another crash.   

There was further frustration at Pyeongchang in 2018, as she ended the 500m finishing fourth after crashing as her hand appeared to be kicked out from under her by Dutch skater Yara van Kerkhof. 

She was then disqualified in the 1,500m semi-final and ended up in hospital.