Belle Brockhoff down but not out of the Winter Olympic games

Despite suffering a serious knee injury last week, Snowboard Cross athlete Belle Brockhoff has declared she will do everything she can to make the start line at the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games.

The 24-year-old suffered a bad crash in training in heavy weather conditions last week in Val Thorens, rupturing her ACL and chipping cartilage in her knee, forcing her to undergo surgery yesterday in Melbourne.

But a determined Brockhoff has said even this won’t stop her from a second Olympic campaign.

“I’m not giving up on the dream so easily,” Brockhoff said. “I will be giving it my very best to come back since I know I’ll regret it if I don’t. I feel confident I can come back for the Olympics and perform as best I can.”

2018 Chef de Mission, Ian Chesterman said the entire Olympic Team is behind her decision to push ahead towards the Olympic Games.

“Whilst this is a setback, Belle is still focussed on going to PyeongChang,” Chesterman said.

“Her medical team have put a plan in place to treat the injury to give her every opportunity to compete in PyeongChang.

“Belle understands the risks involved in attempting to compete in PyeongChang but we will support her in every way possible to achieve her dream of competing at the Olympic Games next year.”

The Sochi Olympian, and FIS World Cup gold medalist, has had an unfortunate 12 months of injury, starting with a crash at the 2017 World Championships in March, which saw her tear her ACL.

After a intense five month rehabilitation period, the Melbourne-native got back on her board in August at Mt Buller, hoping to kick start her 2018 Olympic campaign.

“I know I have the support of my family, the OWI and the Australian Olympic Committee. Everyone is doing everything they can to get me back on a board in time for February.”

Brockhoff finished the 2016/2017 season, third on the women’s world rankings and finished 8th in her Olympic debut four years ago in Sochi, Russia.