THE Winter Olympics officially start one week today out in Beijing, and Brighouse snowboarder Katie Ormerod insists the horrors of four years ago are behind her.

The then 20-year-old was all set for her Games debut in Pyeongchang in 2018 but broke her heel terribly in training just days before she was due to compete.

After an arduous year of rehab, she has since gone from strength to strength, and became the first British snowboarder in history to win a World Cup title two years ago.

Olympic gold would arguably even top that and it is being at her best in Beijing which is her sole focus, not distressing memories of the past.

She told the T&A: “It never plays on my mind when I’m competing, what happened four years ago, as I’ve done so many competitions and World Cup events since the accident.

“Injuries are a risk in your whole career as a snowboarder, so you’ve just got to brush them off.

“I actually only got injured in Pyeongchang in 2018 in training, it wasn’t me trying anything scary, like a big jump, at the time.”

Ormerod is in good form at present, finishing fifth in a big air World Cup event in Colorado last month, and fourth in a slopestyle World Cup event in California a few weeks ago.

The now 24-year-old said: “The way I’ve been snowboarding and my World Cup results have given me confidence going into Beijing.

“But it goes back further than that, as I’ve been working hard ever since I got back to action three years ago from my injury, to prepare for this point.

“My Crystal Globe (World Cup win) in 2020 was huge for me, as regardless of winning, it was when I knew I was back.

“I felt I had stuff to prove after my broken heel, and that showed I could still do it.

“I’ve had two years since to get a bit more confident, and I know what I can do given the opportunity to compete.”

Ormerod will be taking part in the big air and slopestyle events in Beijing, and asked if she favours one over the other, she said: “I feel similar about both to be honest.

“I’ll keep working on both ahead of the Games, as the difference is big air is just one big jump (with airborne twists and tricks) while there are a few more features in slopestyle (tricks and jumps on a sloping course over multiple ramps and obstacles).

“I’m going in with a strong mindset of there being no real pressure and not trying to think of the overall result.

“I just want to do the best I can and focus on the performance.

“Just qualifying for the Olympics was a feat in itself, so if I make it to the finals of either event, that’s a bonus, and if I get a podium, that’s an even bigger bonus.”