Elise Christie
Christie disqualified for a third and final time in 1000m event.

Elise Christie's Winter Olympic heartbreak was confirmed after she was disqualified for a third time in the semi finals of the 1000m short speed skating event in Sochi.

After being disqualified from both the 500m and 1500m events the 23-year-old collided with rival Li Juanrou in the final bend of the final lap and judges subsequently chose to penalise both competitors, bringing an end to a turbulent Games for the Livingston-born skater.

After finishing second in the 500m final last week Christie was disqualified after judges decided she had caused a three women collision that marred the opening lap. Days later she was disqualified from the 1500m event after she finished a centimetre outside the line in the second heat.

The bizarre decision in Friday's event adjudged Christie to have impeded her Chinese rival on the final lap. Having cruised through the quarter finals after a brilliantly measured run to overcome an early stumble and come from fourth to finish first, there was real hope of a fifth medal for Team GB.

The Scot held her ground behind the leading pack throughout the semi for the final three laps before making inroads, but the collision caused her to spin out on the last corner before she tentatively skated over the finishing line.

Earlier there had been brief hope of two medal successes in the short speed skating event as 29-year-old Jon Eley enjoyed a thrilling 500m quarter final where he slipstreamed in behind the favourite Victor An of Russia to secure second.

But a mistake in the semi's would ultimately cost Great Britain's flag bearer a spot in the final, where An secured his fifth medal of these Games.

A medal for Christie or Eley would have seen Great Britain better their all-time record haul in the Winter Olympics having already equalled the tally of four which has stood since the 1924 Chamonix Games.

Britain's men's curling team secured silver after losing to reigning champions Canada in Friday's final after Eve Muirfield's rink secured bronze after beating Sweden in a third place play off.

Curling success followed Lizzy Yarnold's skeleton gold last Friday and Jenny Jones' bronze in the snowboard slopestyle. It also means Team GB have surpassed UK Sport's medal target of three for the 2014 Winter Olympics.