Katie Summerhayes: Skier targets 2018 Winter Olympic gold
Last updated on .From the section Winter Sports
Freestyle skier Katie Summerhayes says the disappointment of missing out on a medal at the Sochi Olympics is fuelling her desire to claim gold in 2018.
Summerhayes, 18, qualified for the first Olympic ski slopestyle final in third place but finished seventh.
It was still an impressive result and that combined with Jenny Jones' snowboard bronze led to the sport receiving a big increase in funding.
"I look back every day and I'm still really gutted," Summerhayes said.
"I keep thinking if I hadn't put my hands down it could have been so different but I've had that in my mind throughout training this summer and I'm going to get that Olympic gold."
| What is slopestyle? |
|---|
| Skiers and snowboarders perform tricks in the air as well as on rails and boxes |
| They do not race against the clock and are awarded points for style and difficulty of their run by a group of judges |
| Sochi 2014 was the first time slopestyle - for skiers or snowboarders - had been included in the Winter Olympic programme |
The British freestyle skiing and snowboarding programme received £1.5 million of funding in the build-up to the Sochi Winter Olympics.
However, UK Sport has more than trebled that figure - to around £4.9 million - leading into the next Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
"It was such an amazing boost - we were already grateful for what we had but this is just amazing," Summerhayes told BBC Sport.
"Having that money will help us get more support from physios and strength and conditioning coaches throughout the year, which are so important because it's a dangerous sport."
| Sport | 2010-2014 funding | 2014-2018 funding |
|---|---|---|
| Bobsleigh | £3,304,250 | £4,494,400 |
| Curling | £2,055,100 | £5,389,450 |
| Figure skating | £174,338 | £1,699,940 |
| Short-track speed skating | £2,953,400 | £4,350,600 |
| Skeleton | £3,447,600 | £6,549,617 |
| Ski and snowboard | £1,509,950 | £4,890,326 |
| Para Alpine skiing | £405,400 | £2,749,000 |
| Wheelchair curling | £350,200 | £1,167,300 |
| Total | £14,200,238 | £31,290,633 |
The Leeds-raised teenager is no stranger to injuries, having suffered two knee ligament problems in the build-up to Sochi 2014.
However, the 2014 junior world champion says she is now fully fit and looking forward to unleashing some of her new routines in the coming season - which begins in December.
"I've had an amazing summer (training) and learned so much," said Summerhayes at the launch of the 'Go Race Go Freestyle' participation campaign.
"I can't wait to show people what I can do and I'll be going into all of my competitions with the aim of winning a medal."
Summerhayes' season is likely to begin with the Dew Tour in Breckenridge, Colorado in December, with her first major event set to be January's World Championships in Kreischberg, Austria.
