Elise Christie at Winter Olympics 2018: Team GB star back on the ice ahead of make-or-break decision after injury

Elise Christie’s hopes of a final shot at a medal at these Games rest on a make-or-break training session on Tuesday.

Christie crashed out of the 500m and 1500m, after which she was taken to hospital with an ankle injury.

She returned to the ice on Monday for the first time since that injury to tentatively test out her ankle.

On Tuesday she faces a practice session before the heats of the 1000m, which are scheduled to take place in the evening.

Team GB chef de mission Mike Hay admitted the participation of Christie, tipped as Britain’s best medal hope ahead of the Games, hangs in the balance.

“I’m cautiously positive,” said Hay. “She was on the ice today to see if she could put the boot on and skate around a bit. She’ll go through a training session tomorrow.

“If she comes through that and, it’s still a big if, she’ll compete tomorrow evening. She absolutely wants to. Medically, if we’re happy the decision is hers to skate. We just need to make sure everything is okay.”

The British team have been set a medal target of five in Korea in conjunction with UK Sport.

They have claimed four so far — one gold and three bronzes — and Hay insists there will be no pressure put on Christie to race in a bid to reach Team GB’s target, with medal opportunities potentially diminishing.

He said: “No one’s forcing anyone to compete for Team GB. The welfare of the athlete is more important than chasing any medal target out there. She needs to be fit or else she’s not able to compete at the level she wants to.”

Christie was disqualified from all three of her races at the last Olympics and the fear is that she will face a third strike on the ice again when the racing resumes on Tuesday.

Hay, however, insists Christie is strong enough to cope with the setbacks. “She’s a different athlete to what she was four years ago,” he added. “Any time you become a double world champion, it shows she’s got some resilience.

“She has what it takes, she needs to get it right. This is her last chance at these Games. Whether she makes it or not, that’s in the balance.”

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