Sky Academy Sports Scholarships: Medals elude Elise Christie in Salt Lake City opener

Elise Christie made a steady but unspectacular start to her ISU World Cup season as she made the finals of the 1000m and 1500m in Salt Lake City.

Despite having already made it clear that she will be using the World Cup to hone her racing skills and try out some new tactics, the European 1000m champion will have been disappointed not to have picked up a medal, finishing fourth in the 1000m and fifth in the 1500m.

In the longer distance, Christie was in good form to advance the medal contest by winning her heat ahead of China’s Jiaying Tao. However, despite recording a much improved time in the final and again seeing off Tao, Christie had to settle for fifth with Korean duo Suk Hee Shim and Alang Kim taking gold and silver, respectively.

That was followed by the 1000m and again the Koreans dominated with the Shim and Kim taking first and second once more. Christie, who qualified as runner-up in her semi-final, was left battling for bronze with Valerie Maltais.

In a close finish it was the Canadian who edged ahead to cross the line in third and leave Christie waiting for her first silverware of the season.

The GB star will not have to wait long as she attempts to put that right with the next World Cup event getting underway in Montreal on Friday.