Speed skater Elise Christie wins double gold in final World Cup race in Dordrecht
By Mark Ashenden
Last Updated: 17/02/16 9:39pm
Speed skater Elise Christie sent her rivals a huge message with double gold at the final World Cup event in the Netherlands.
With the World Championships in Seoul just four weeks away [March 11-13], the 25-year-old Sky Academy Sports Scholar has been in dazzling form having overcome a pre-season ankle injury.
Triple gold at the European Short-Track Speed Skating Championships in Sochi and a gold and silver in Germany last week was impressive but few would have expected the fireworks on show this weekend in Dordrecht.
Christie, who has insisted over the last two weeks that her focus has been the big stage in Korea at the Worlds, began the weekend in fine style by battling to her first gold on Saturday in the 1000m.
She took the lead with two laps to go before crossing the line in 1 minute 30.616 seconds ahead of South Korea's Minjeong Choi and Canada's Jamie Macdonald.
Choi again had to settle for silver behind her Scottish rival in the 500m final on Sunday with Canadian St Gelais Marianne taking bronze.
"I'm really pleased with my current form and the way I am racing," said Christie, who will be desperate to win her first world title next month having picked up three silvers and a bronze.
"The results over the last couple of weeks are helping me build my confidence looking towards the upcoming World Championships."
Her efforts in the Netherlands mean she has a four-gold haul from her World Cup campaign, having made the podium seven times in World Cup races.
WHAT'S COMING UP FOR OUR SCHOLARS...
JAN 16 - MARCH 5: Siobhan O'Connor, Australia
FEB 8-15: Sam Oldham, training camp in Portugal
FEB 17: Mark English, Holly Bradshaw, Grand Prix IAAF Indoor Meeting, Stockholm
FEB 19-21: Jessica Judd, Grand Prix IAAF Indoor Meeting, Glasgow
FEB 20: Mark English, Holly Bradshaw, Grand Prix IAAF Indoor Meeting, Glasgow
