Former world champion Christie retires from short-track speed skating

LONDON -- Former world champion Elise Christie of Britain has announced retirement from short-track speed skating on Tuesday but insisted her "Olympic medal dream isn't over."

Earlier this month, the 31-year-old had already hinted that she was likely to miss the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games.

The former world champion competed in the previous three Winter Olympics and has been hoping to make her fourth appearance at the Olympics next year in Beijing.

However, she struggled to find her form during the World Cup season due to an ankle injury and was outperformed by teammate Kathryn Thomson in all individual events.

"I will have a lot to say and I know a lot of people with have a lot of questions... but for now it's time to announce my retirement from short track speed skating," Christie wrote on social media.

She admitted that she was not a decorated Olympian as her best result was a fourth finish at the 2018 Winter Olympics, "but I am a decorated athlete," she said.

"I changed this sport in this country, I defied odds, never made excuses for having less than my opponents, and I will walk away with over 70 World Cup/European and world championship medals, and a fourth-place at the Olympics... Only three of those medals are in team events. I also broke a world record," she wrote with pride.

Christie said she will then focus on helping the rest of the team and getting into coaching. "I won't reveal for now my sporting plans for 2026, but the Olympic medal dream isn't over."

"This won't be the last you'll see of me in sport, but I'm taking a new venture down a different path."