Resilience is the compellingly honest autobiography of Elise Christie— triple
World Champion, ten-time European Champion and former world record
holding short track speed skater.
In a world where online scrutiny is more intense than ever, Elise’s story
massively transcends sport. Having been routinely bullied for being
unconventional while growing up in Scotland, Christie first felt the full
weight of online public opinion following three separate disqualifications at the
2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
Death threats followed amid a torrent of online hate whereby she was
accused of having caused a rival South Korean medal hopeful to crash. And
with that, Christie, aged just 24, retreated into a period of mental health
support and medication to assist her through extremely traumatic times on the
lead up to the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, where again her dreams
fell apart in barely believable circumstances.
In December 2018, after months of experimental self-harm as her mental
health spiralled out of control, Christie stood at a figurative cliff-edge with a
razor blade held against her left wrist. Years of low esteem issues and PTSD
triggered by a variety of events that included a house fire and a deeply personal
event that until now she has never discussed, had led her to a place where she
felt her life just couldn’t continue as it was.
And yet, she emerged stronger. Instead of personalizing her issues, Christie went
public in April 2019 via Instagram – and in doing so became a vital, young female
voice in the battle against mental health stigma as she approaches her final
date with destiny at the 2022 Beijing Olympics. Told with her trademark blend of
unfiltered honesty and dark humour, Resilience is her incredible, inspiring story.