History-making Christie praises Redditch team-mate Gilmartin - The Redditch Standard

History-making Christie praises Redditch team-mate Gilmartin

Redditch Editorial 16th Mar, 2015 Updated: 18th Oct, 2016   0

REDDITCH speed skater Charlotte Gilmartin was praised by Great Britain team-mate and double silver medallist Elise Christie for her performance at the ISU World Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Russia.

After the disappointment of receiving penalties in her 500m and 1,000m heats on Friday, 25-year-old Gilmartin – Great Britain women’s number two ranked speed skater – recovered to race alongside Christie in the 1,500m semi-finals and finished fourth out of seven to qualify for the B Final in which she took tenth place overall on Saturday.

The headlines went to Scotland’s Christie, 24, who became the first Briton to win two medals at a World Short Track Speed Skating Championships as she clinched silver medals in both the 500m and 1,000m in Moscow.

She finished 0.273 seconds behind Fan Kexin of China in the 500m and missed the 1,000m gold by 0.052 seconds as South Korea’s Choi Minjeong triumphed and also became overall world champion.




Christie, who won the European title earlier this year and stormed to victory at the World Cup in Turkey last month, finished fourth overall as she showed admirable courage to even compete at all following the recent passing of her paternal grandmother.

Christie said on Twitter of her efforts: “It won’t mend a broken heart but silvers at the World Championships is a great thing. Thanks everyone.”


She then added: “It feels really good to have been able to deliver here in Moscow. I would have obviously liked to finish in the top three overall having missed out by only two points but, considering everything that has happened over the past few weeks, I’m really pleased to be coming home with another two medals.

“After the disappointment in Sochi last year, I wanted to come back fighting this season. To gain the European title and now get two medals at the World Championships feels like a great end to the season.”

Christie said of Gilmartin’s efforts: “Charlotte did so well to finish fourth in her semi-final and second in her B Final in the 1,500m. She was up against some of the top skaters in the world and she looked good.

“There have been some really good performances from the rest of the team this weekend too and they’ve been unlucky in their races.”

The GB squad’s Performance Director Stuart Horsepool added: “Charlotte placed tenth in the 1,500m out of the top 42 female speed skaters in the world and that’s no mean feat. It just goes to show much all of the skaters have progressed this year.”

The men’s relay team, which was made up of Jon Eley, Jack Whelbourne, Richard Shoebridge and Billy Simms, took second place in the 5,000m B Final on Sunday to finish sixth overall.

They lost out to World Championship hosts Russia, who finished first in the B Final in front of their home crowd.

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