Katie Ormerod Ruled Out Of The Pyeongchang 2018 Olympic Winter Games

Team GB snowboard athlete Katie Ormerod has been ruled out of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games following a severe fracture to her right heel bone.  She had been described by Graham Bell as "arguably Britain's best medal chance for Pyeongchang 2018".

The 20-year-old from Brighouse was due to compete in snowboard slopestyle and snowboard big air and will undergo emergency surgery in the morning.

Mike Hay, Team GB Chef de Mission said: “We are deeply sorry for Katie and her fellow snowboarders who have lost a valued member of their close-knit team. She is a world class competitor across both disciplines and we are desperately disappointed for her.  From everyone at Team GB we wish her all the best for her recovery.”

Dan Hunt, British Ski and Snowboard Performance Director said: “We are all devastated for Katie who was in strong form coming into the Olympics.  She is a talented athlete and wonderful role model. 

"At a young age she has already achieved highly within the sport, most recently with gold at the World Cup in Russia last year.  Her determined and fearless nature will see her come back from this and reach the exciting potential and future that is ahead of her.

"We wish her all the best and with four park and pipe snowboarders competing, her team mates will now be giving their all for her as well as their nation over these Games.”

Katie started Snowboarding at Halifax dry slope when she was five years old after skiing from the age of 3. Katie also competed at County level Gymnastics from the age of 4 which complemented her Freestyle ability in Snowboarding due to her muscular strength and spacial awareness.

At 15 years old, Katie became the youngest girl to land a Double backflip on a Snowboard and at the age of 16 did the World's first female Backside Double Cork 1080.

Her main goal is to podium at both the Olympics and X Games. Outside of Snowboarding, Katie still loves to get involved in Gymnastics as well as Rock Climbing and keeping strong in the gym.