EXCLUSIVE: ‘Fastest woman on ice’ Elise Christie said her Winter Games experience was tainted by ‘abuse, threats and negativity’ no other athlete should have to experience
Brit speed skating legend Elise Christie has urged fans to ‘be kind’ after admitting her ‘heart was broken’ when she was brutally trolled after crashing out of the Winter Olympics. The triple world and 10 time European gold medallist said her experience of representing Team GB at the greatest show on ice was ‘tainted by abuse, threats and negativity’.
The short track speed skater was hailed the ‘fastest woman on ice’ after setting a 500m world record in 2016. But she quit the sport after agonising online ordeals when she flopped as hot favourite at two Winter Games.
In 2014 in Russia she was harassed off Twitter after being accused of causing South Korea’s Park Seung-Hi to crash. Four years later in South Korea she was trolled again for finishing medal-less after being disqualified from the 1000m when judges ruled she had caused crashes in two other events.
Elise, 35, from Livingston, Scotland, urged fans to go easy on athletes competing at the current Games in Italy. She posted on Instagram: “Well it’s been 8 years since my heart was broken.
“Please remember as you watch the Olympics to be kind. My Olympic experience was tainted by abuse, threats and negativity.
“I never want to see another athlete go through what I went through. Let’s send support and love to all the Olympians out there competing and getting ready to compete.
“The sacrifices they have made and the determination they show is like no other. And remember most of these sports are only seen broadcast every four years.
“These athletes are competing and dedicating themselves every day of their lives — achieving many things you don’t ever hear about. I can’t wait to see them all succeed on the big stage.”
Blonde Elise, who went on to become a glamour model posting steamy photos on OnlyFans, said she went to the Olympics with ‘dreams and ambitions’. “But I also carried the weight of the world on my shoulders,” she said, “and I ended my career absolutely broken feeling like a failure.
“But that wasn’t the case…and I’m content with everything I achieved now, irrelevant to anyone else’s opinion…and my upcoming documentary will be an eye opener. Now I can only remember the good times.
“Good luck to everyone competing and a massive good luck to everyone at Team GB. It’s your time to shine.” In 2019 Elise told on social media how she had suffered from depression and anxiety over a two-year period, including self-harm. Two years later she revealed she was raped on a night out in Nottingham in 2010 aged 19 after having her drink spiked.
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