Elise Christie says she now has an aura other speed skaters cannot deal with
By Dev Trehan
Last Updated: 19/02/17 8:57pm
GB speed skater Elise Christie says her form and presence on the ice has her rivals running scared.
The Sky Academy Sports Scholar has won five World Cup gold medals so far this season and set a new 500m world record in Salt Lake City at the end of last year.
"I have made a lot of progression both physically and mentally this year," Christie told Sky Sports News HQ ahead of the weekend's final World Cup event in Belarus.
"I feel more ready than I ever have and I feel like I'm in the best form I have ever been in. I feel more confident this year and I think people are more scared of me.
"I feel like I have a presence around me on the ice now that people find hard to deal with and that's a really good feeling.
"Presence is really important in short track I think. If you have it then people race you differently. They're less likely to be aggressive with you on the ice because they look to race behind you and having that presence helps you get into less fights [on the ice] normally."
Christie was unable to race in last weekend's World Cup race meeting in Germany in accordance with the Team GB 'return to racing policy' after suffering a concussion from a blow to the head last week.
But the 26-year-old hopes to return for the grand finale in Minsk to step up her preparations for next month's World Championships in Rotterdam
"Unfortunately, I just lost some vision in my left eye so at the moment I can't race but I am getting better and I am hoping to get out and race next weekend," Christie said.
"These things just take time and we have a good team of medical staff helping me to get back as soon as possible.
"I'm going to get some tests done on my eyes to make sure there is no lasting damage but we don't think there is, and hopefully I will be back soon.
"I bumped my head quite hard but I am calm. The more stressed I am the longer my recovery will be, so I just have to stay calm and just stay focused on my goal, which is the World Championships in March."
WHAT'S COMING UP FOR OUR SCHOLARS....
FEB 9: Jack Bateson, World Series of Boxing in Rome, Italy
FEB 10-12: Elise Christie, World Cup short track speed skating in Minsk, Belarus
FEB 24-26: Quillan Isidore, Gator Nations Supercross Series in Oldsmar, USA
MARCH 4: Sam Oldham, American Cup in New Jersey, USA
MARCH 10-12: Elise Christie, World Championships in Rotterdam
