LIKE most overnight success stories, Elise Christie owes her achievements to years of hard graft.
The 22-year-old from Livingston travels to Debrecen, Hungary, this week for the world short track speed skating championships. She has emerged as a top medal contender both for the worlds and next year's Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, after becoming the first Briton to win an overall world cup title over her favoured distance of 1000m, as well as other world cup wins this season.
Although her development has had an accidental quality – she switched from figure skating to speed skating aged 15 because her local ice rink had a club – the Scot's annus mirablis has been a good six years in the making. Christie moved to Nottingham aged 16 to concentrate full-time on skating at the National Performance Centre with the rest of the squad.
"Elise has obviously had an impressive season, but even though it may seem like it, her success hasn't come about overnight," said Stuart Horsepool, GB Short Track's performance director. "Since she moved to train at the national performance centre in 2006 she's shown improvements year on year and this year's results have been the culmination of a lifetime of hard work.
"She is delighted with her results and her world No 1 ranking, but she is definitely hungry for success in Debrecen. Short track is so unpredictable that nothing is certain, but she will go into her races and attack them like she has shown she can throughout the World Cup series and that's all you can ask for. Her performance this season has also had a very positive effect on the rest of the squad, and they are all going to Debrecen with a lot more confidence because of her."
Attracted to speed skating because it didn't come down to the opinion of a judge, Christie has been inspired by summer Olympic gold medallists such as Jessica Ennis, and is hopeful of emulating the likes of Amy Williams, who was catapulted to fame after winning Olympic gold in the skeleton.
"My build-up to the world champs is going well," she said. "After that, I can start focusing on the Olympics. It is great timing that I've been doing so well as it gives me plenty to be positive about a year out from Sochi. There is a lot to work on still – mostly mental – but I aim to give myself the best chance possible to go and get a medal at the Games."
Christie is joined on Team GB by fellow Scots Kathryn Thomson, a silver medallist at the European Youth Olympic Winter Festival, and Murray Cochrane, a ninth-place finisher at last week's Junior World Championships.
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