Speed skater Elise Christie has taken to social media to speak about her battle with mental illness and describe how she has felt a sense of "complete failure".

After two falls and a disqualification at the 2018 Winter Olympics, she wrote off last year as she opened up about her struggles with anxiety and depression.

But now, with the announcement that she will not be competing for the rest of the year, it means she will miss four of this season's Speed Skating World Cup races which will make it harder for her to qualify for a fourth Games in 2022.

"There’s only a few times in my life in which I’ve felt a complete failure. I am disappointed in myself for not being able to do more," she said.

"I weaned off the medication, stopped self harming and really started to move forward, moved myself out of the 'darkness' but I've been met the other side of the darkness by probably the most challenging and deflating years of my life.

"And unfortunately due to ill health for the most part, I won't be racing until January 2020."

The 29-year-old won world titles in the 100m, 1500m and the overall event in 2017, but has since struggled with form.