Countdown to Sochi: Nesbitt out to regain podium place
As part of our countdown to Sochi 2014, Olympic.ca is showcasing 14 Canadian medal contenders in 14 weeks. Each week we take a look at an Olympian with a chance of reaching the podium for Canada come February.
Previous: Devon Kershaw
This week we look at…
Christine Nesbitt
Canadian medal hopes don’t come much greater than Christine Nesbitt heading to the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. Born in Australia to Canadian parents, Nesbitt has already stood atop the podium with an Olympic gold in Vancouver. Canadians will eagerly unite behind the long track speed skater when she hits the oval at Adler Arena in February.
What makes her a medal contender?
Since winning gold in the 1000 metres at Vancouver 2010, Nesbitt set the world record at the 2012 ISU World Sprint Speed Skating Championships at the Calgary Olympic Oval. This added to the women’s team pursuit world record she shares with Kristina Groves and Brittany Schussler set in 2009.
Known as a perfectionist, Nesbitt will be further charged by missing the podium at the 2013 World Single Distances Championships in Sochi earlier this year. Despite doing her best on the day, she called her fourth place finish “disappointing” and vowed to “figure out how to skate fast” on the Adler ice for 2014.
Adding intrigue to a potential Adler showdown is that Russian Olga Fatkulina took the 1,000-metre title this year in Nesbitt’s best event.
Winter Games, Canada-Russia, and our world record holder will be looking for redemption on their ice. As if there weren’t enough reasons to support Nesbitt to a second Olympic gold.
More Nesbitt
Twitter: @CNezzy
Website: christinenesbitt.net
