Elise Christie win keeps Sochi Olympic dream alive

Elise Christie celebrates next to the Jorien Ter Mors after retaining her European title Picture: Getty

The Scot kept rival Jorien Ter Mors at bay in Dresden, with her performance lending weight to the argument she could win a medal in Sochi next month.

With Olympic and world champion Wang Meng a fitness doubt, Christie is positioning herself well for a title tilt, not that Team GB performance director Stuart Horsepool is indulging in such thoughts.

“This doesn’t mean, in the big scheme of things, she’ll be a favourite for anything,” Horsepool told BBC Sport.

“Elise has only won one out of her three events,” added Horsepool. “She didn’t perform to her best in the 1,500m or 500m so she’s still got a lot of work to do.

“She is still struggling with race tactics and the whole competition environment. She may be comfortable doing the 1,000m but she didn’t skate as well as she has done.

“We’ve still got some work to do in getting her to perform at this level in the Games.”

A second place in the non-Olympic 3,000m will have given the 23-year-old some added confidence, though, as will a similar result in the 3,000m relay.

Her next assignment will be in Russia as part of a five-strong British team which also features Jon Eley, Charlotte Gilmartin, Richard Shoebridge and Jack Whelbourne.

Elsewhere yesterday, the Lamin Deen-piloted four-man bobsleigh team gave themselves a great chance of securing a second British spot in Sochi after performing well at the World Cup in Igls.