Name: Christine Nesbitt
Sport: Speed Skating

Christine Nesbitt (born May 17, 1985, in Melbourne, Australia) is a Canadian long track speed skater.

Nesbitt began speed skating at age 12 in London, Ontario (where she attended Sir Frederick Banting Secondary School), as a short-track racer. She became the top-ranked short-track junior in Ontario, setting numerous provincial records and was also ranked nationally. Nesbitt won a silver medal with the Ontario short-track 3000 m relay team in the 1999 Canada Winter Games, and also won a bronze in the same event in the 2003 Canada Winter Games.

Nesbitt switched to long track in 2003 and moved to Calgary, Alberta, to train. Nesbitt earned a spot on the national team in early 2005 and began competing in ISU World Cup competitions. Nesbitt won the Canadian long track “Rising Star Award” in the spring of 2005.

Nesbitt qualified for World Cup competitions in the winter of 2004-05 and competed in the Single Distance Championships at Inzell Germany, finishing 17th at both the 1000m and 1500m distances. In the 2005-06 season, she won her first world cup medal, a bronze in the 1500m at Salt Lake City on November 20, 2005, and later won two silver medals with the Canadian women’s team pursuit. During the 2006-07 world cup season, she captured five silver and two bronze medals in the 1000m and 1500m distances, and two silver medals in team pursuits. At the end of the season, her World Cup rankings were 4th in the 1500m and 7th in the 1000m. At the 2007 All Round Championships Nesbitt won a bronze medal in the 1500m and was ranked 9th overall at the competition. The 2007 Single Distance Championships brought her a bronze medal in the 1000m and a gold medal in the team pursuit (with Shannon Rempel and Kristina Groves).

She clinched a spot in the 2006 Winter Olympics after winning two golds and a bronze in the 2005 Canada Post Single Distance Championships. In the 2006 Olympics she competed in the 1000 m, 1500 m and team pursuit. On February 15, 2006, Nesbitt, with Cindy Klassen and Kristina Groves set the team pursuit Olympic record. Nesbitt won her first Olympic medal, a silver, in the team pursuit on February 16. In the 1000 m event, Nesbitt placed 14th and 7th in the 1500 m.