Elise Christie Opens Up on Life After Olympic Heartbreak
Former Winter Olympics star Elise Christie has spoken candidly about the turbulent and often tragic journey of her athletic career and the challenging transition into retirement. The 35-year-old Scottish speed skater, once considered one of Britain's greatest short track talents, faced highly publicized disappointments during her Olympic appearances.
Olympic Disappointments and Online Abuse
At the Sochi 2014 Games, Christie was disqualified from three separate events, a devastating blow for any competitor. Her misfortune continued in PyeongChang 2018, where she crashed and received disqualifications in two additional races. As a primary gold medal contender, these setbacks were compounded by a torrent of vicious online abuse, adding profound personal misery to her professional struggles.
Financial Hardships and Unconventional Employment
Now retired from competitive skating, Christie has revealed the severe financial difficulties she encountered. To make ends meet, she took employment at Pizza Hut, working both as a pizza maker and a delivery driver while continuing to train. Her fellow employees were reportedly shocked to find themselves working alongside the former superstar athlete they had watched on television. Christie simply told them, "I'm here to get paid, just like the rest of you."
Following funding cuts after 2018, Christie harbored hopes of competing in Beijing 2022 for a final shot at redemption. However, a cruel ankle injury shattered those dreams, forcing her retirement from the sport at age 31.
Turning to OnlyFans for Income
In her post-athletic life, Christie turned to the subscription platform OnlyFans as a source of income. She explained that every 700 subscribers generates approximately £5,000 for her—coincidentally the same amount she earned for winning the 2017 World Championship gold medal.
"I'm trying to get to the point where I'm not doing it, but it's not easy financially," Christie stated in an interview with The Telegraph. She deliberated extensively before joining the platform, ultimately reasoning that criticism for this choice paled in comparison to the abuse she endured for her skating career. "I decided that being slagged off for this had nothing on being slagged off for my skating, something I dedicated my life to and apparently failed at," she said.
While most of her close friends supported the decision, Christie acknowledged that a few individuals ceased communication with her because of it.
Personal Struggles and Mental Health
Christie's life has been marked by significant personal challenges. She has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and has spoken openly about past self-harm. A chapter in her 2021 memoir details a traumatic incident where she was drugged and raped in Nottingham following the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.
Further tragedy struck in 2012 when she escaped a house fire. The damage to her lungs was so severe that she required a full day in a resuscitation unit. Reflecting on her post-retirement period, Christie described a state of utter exhaustion and deprivation.
"I ended up having nothing, because I lost my career, came out with no money," she told the BBC's 'Not by the Playbook' podcast. "I was working three jobs. I was literally finishing at three in the morning at one job, having an hour's sleep in the car and then going to another job... I was barely sleeping, I wasn't eating. If I look at pictures of myself back then, my eyes are drawn-in. I looked done with life, completely done."
Finding Stability and Looking Forward
Christie credits a period in rehabilitation with helping to save her life and now finds herself on a more stable path. She is a devoted mother to her two-year-old daughter, Millie, and is focused on building a future, striving to move past the profound anguish that has characterized much of her life. Her story remains a powerful testament to the often unseen struggles athletes face after leaving the spotlight of elite competition.
