Great Britain’s Katie Ormerod has become the first Briton to win a World Cup snowboard title in her comeback season following a string of injuries in recent years.
The 22-year-old initially broke her wrist in preparation for the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang in 2018 and then fractured her heel needing seven operations. It left some uncertainty over whether she would return to her previously impressive form.
“I have finished this season with five World Cup podiums, three yellow bibs and my first-ever overall World Cup slopestyle title and Crystal Globe.
"My comeback season has turned out to be the best season of my career so far and it's been so much fun," Ormerod said following her win.
Ormerod’s final competition of the season was set to take place in the Czech Republic on 21 March, however, following fears surrounding the spread of coronavirus the competition was cancelled.
This meant that, by virtue of leading the standings for the overall season, Ormerod was awarded the title. The International Ski Federation is yet to announce when the formal award ceremony is likely to take place, so Ormerod will have to wait to be awarded her trophy.
Ormerod led the standings with 2,600 points with 400 points between her and her nearest rival Canadian snowboarder Laurie Blouin. Her win makes her the first British athlete, male or female, to win the snowboard slopestyle competition.
GB Snowsport CEO Vick Gosling heaped praise on the star of British snowsports, saying: “Katie has made a phenomenal return to competitive snowboarding this season and has performed amazingly well.".