Winter Olympics

Christie crashes out of short-track semi-finals

ESPN staff

February 21, 2014

Elise Christie had also been disqualified from her other distances as well © Getty Images

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Great Britain's Elise Christie suffered more pain at the Winter Olympics after she was disqualified from the women's 1000m short-track in the semi-finals.

Running at the back of the pack with a few laps remaining, Christie made her move. However, she was denied the chance to reach the final as she was taken out by China's Li Jianrou round the final bend, and after the race the pair were disqualified from the semi-finals.

Christie, who had also been disqualified from the 500m final and her 1500m heat, and suffered abuse online, has not been able to collect a medal at the Winter Olympics.

"Never in 100 years did I expect to get a penalty for that," Christie told BBC Sport. "That is the problem with this sport - it's different referees each time and you have to deal with it. I knew you needed a lot [of mental strength], but I didn't know it would need this much. I am very heartbroken about the decision.

"Every single member of Team GB is shocked. I don't understand being penalised. I have spent all of this time training and to not be given a chance to challenge for a medal is heartbreaking. I don't understand how you can penalise two people but it's done and there's nothing I can do now - that's short-track."

Great Britain's men's curling team had to settle for the silver medal at the Winter Olympics after suffering a heavy loss to Canada in the final in Sochi.

Canada dominated the encounter to win the gold medal with a 9-3 victory, but the silver medal for Team GB means they have equalled their best tally at the Winter Games from 1924 as they have won four medals in total.

Had Great Britain won gold it would have been the first time they would have collected two at the Winter Games, adding to Lizzy Yarnold's gold in the women's skeleton.

Skip David Murdoch and his team had their work cut out from the very beginning of the final, with Canada going into a 2-0 lead before opening up a 5-1 advantage after just three ends.

Murdoch was unable to inspire his team-mates in the way he did against reigning world champions Sweden in the semi-finals as Canada consolidated their advantage at 8-2 before the game was conceded at 9-3 with two ends remaining.

"We just never got off to a good start. We were struggling after three, and when you go 5-1 down to a team of that calibre it's extremely difficult to come back," Murdoch said. "I'm disappointed now but a silver medal is scarily cool. I think I'll appreciate it in about 10 minutes."