Is Elise Christie at the Winter Olympics 2022? Why GB speed skater isn’t at Beijing Games and Olympic record

The Winter Olympics 2022 are now well underway in Beijing, with a host of sporting stars competing for a place on the Olympic podium.

But why isn’t GB speed skater Elise Christie at the Games?

Here’s what you need to know.

Why isn’t GB speed skater Elise Christie at the Winter Olympics?

In 2021, Elise Christie failed to qualify for a fourth Winter Olympics in Beijing, announcing her retirement from short-track speed skating just two weeks later.

Christie said “part of my heart will always be missing” having failed to crown her career with an Olympic medal.

However, Christie has still had a glittering sporting career, being a 10-time European gold medallist and winning two overall European titles in 2015 and 2016.

She has also won world titles in the 1000m and 1500m events and overall gold at the 2017 World Championships in Rotterdam.

When Christie announced her retirement, she said on social media: “I will have a lot to say and I know a lot of people will have lots of questions, but now it’s time to announce my retirement from short track speed skating.

“Part of my heart will always be missing because I never achieved my end goal. But I leave this sport knowing it’s left in good hands, with skaters capable of doing what I didn’t.

“I changed this sport in this country, I defied odds, never made excuses for having less than my opponents, and I walk away with over 70 World Cup, European and World Championship medals.”

Christie said she was “taking a new venture down a different path”.

She added: “I am not a decorated Olympian but I am a decorated athlete.”

Which Winter Olympics did Elise Christie compete in?

Christie competed at the 2010, 2014 and 2018 Winter Olympics.

At the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics Christie crashed in the 500m final and also fell in the 1500m semi-final, which required hospital treatment on an injured ankle.

She then returned to the track for the 1000m, but fell early in her heat which prompted a re-start, after which she crashed again and was subsequently disqualified.

Christie decided to continue in a bid to qualify for Beijing 2022, but was hampered by an ankle injury and failed to reach the semi-finals in any qualification races, which ruled her out of heading to the Games.