Date of Birth:  May 17, 1985
	Place of Birth: Melbourne, Australia
	Residence: Calgary, AB
Years on National Team:  N/A	Height:  N/A
	Weight: N/A

Growing up in London, ON, Christine Nesbitt dreamed of representing Canada as an Olympian in short track speed skating. Unfortunately for her, that plan was derailed in 2000 when the then-elite short track skater couldn't enter McGill University in Montreal, also the home base for the vaunted short track program.

Instead of feeling sorry for herself and giving up, Nesbitt turned to Plan B and moved to Calgary, where she could attend university while trying to make the transition to long track. Fortunately, her skating skills transferred smoothly and today Nesbitt finds herself a part of the 2006 Turin team after all.

Named the 2005 Long Track Speed Skating Rising Star, Nesbitt has begun to ascent even faster than expected. A breakout performance at the Canada Post Single Distance Championships in late December and early January made people stand up and take notice. She won both the 1500m and the 3000m at the event, which also served as the Canadian Olympic trials. Unfortunately for Nesbitt, team veterans Clara Hughes, Cindy Klassen and Kristina Groves have already been chosen to represent Canada in the 3000m, so Nesbitt will have to settle for berths in the 1000m, 1500m and Team Pursuit.

Early in the 2005-06 season, Nesbitt has placed 11th at a 1500m race on the Olympic track in Turin and has scored a bronze in a 1000m event in Salt Lake City.


Related Headlines:
February 23: Nesbitt's sights set on 2010
February 18: Nesbitt now free to talk

2006 Longtrackskating Coverage