ELISE CHRISTIE would rather risk Olympic heartache again than settle for a silver medal.
Britain’s three-time world speed skating champion goes for gold on Tuesday morning, with the 500 metre quarter-finals, semi-finals and final all between 10am and 12.30pm.
And despite being disqualified three times in Sochi four years ago, Christie will not hold back and settle for second-best.
The Scot, 27, said: “The unpredictability of the sport is something I have definitely struggled with.
“Partly because of what happened in Sochi but also there were loads of World Championships where I missed out on the podium because someone took me out or I was team-skated out.
“One of the biggest things I developed last season was accepting failure.
“I’d felt for so long I’d been almost hesitating for the winning position because I’d been securing medals.
“But I just decided that I was sick of being unhappy.
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“It was about having that outlook of ‘if I’m in second place with three laps to go and I don’t try and make the move that’s worse than doing it and failing’.”
Christie admitted her disaster in Sochi had played on her mind.
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She added: “OK, I could have sat in third and picked up a bronze medal but would I have been happy with that?
“My life might have changed because I’m a bronze medallist at a Winter Games but it wouldn’t have changed my feelings on it. Winning a gold medal is definitely going to be my intention.
“If I get a penalty on the last lap passing into first place then sobeit.
“I’ve not trained this hard not to give myself that opportunity.
“But you’re going 35mph down a straight where you’ve got about a second-and-a-half to make a decision, so it’s not easy.”
Don’t miss a moment of the Winter Olympics on Eurosport and Eurosport Player. Go to www.eurosport.co.uk
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