Winter Olympic medallist backs Team GB's Katie Ormerod for Beijing 2022 podium

Former Winter Olympic bronze medallist Jenny Jones has backed fellow GB snowboarder Katie Ormerod to win a medal at the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Ormerod, who hails from Brighouse in West Yorkshire, has had three podium finishes this season in the slopestyle competition.

She made her return to the slopestyle World Cup competition at the Laax Open after two years out after a severe ankle injury in the build up to the 2018 Winter Olympics. She claimed bronze and went on to win a Silver in Seiser Alm and most recently won another bronze at the US grand prix.

Jones, who was Great Britain's first Olympic medallist on snow winning bronze in Sochi, was happy to see her have a successful return to action in Laax, saying:

Team GB's Jenny Jones with her bronze medal from Sochi 2014

"I thought she rode incredibly well and put down a solid run. She seemed relaxed and told me her motivation for this contest was just to ride the course and land a safe run.

"She did not go in with any expectation and so it was a great result for her to finish on the podium."

The 22-year-old is one of GB's brightest medal hopes for Beijing 2022 but Jones insists that Ormerod has the maturity to not get ahead of herself. This is particularly important after the ankle injury that kept her out of action for a year.

"I think Katie has a chance of finishing on the podium but 2022 is a long way off.

"Staying injury free will be key, giving her the chance to keep progressing her tricks and developing her riding. Against all the top athletes in her field, I think she will need to add a few more tricks to her bag to be a medal contender which is achievable and only time will tell if she can reach this level by Beijing," said Jones.

Ormerod is not only a leading member of team GB's young talent coming through but also their young female talent. Jones has identified a number of youngsters to keep an eye on and how important female representation is for GB winter sport.

"I think it’s massively important and am so happy to see Katie back riding so well and enjoying herself. I also think Mia brooks has potential too and hope she stays as motivated and enthusiastic as she currently is.

"Matty McCormick is riding really well and becoming more consistent and technical with his tricks, again can he get a few more tricks in the bag in time for the Olympics," said Jones.

"Having British female snowboarders competing on the international stage is not only great for other females to see but as a British rider for both men and women from the UK.

"To know that you have just as much chance as any other nation at excelling in competitive snowboarding. Snowboarding is not your traditional UK sport but it’s is incredibly exciting, creative, varied and takes you to some amazing locations."

The next World Cup slopestyle event will take place in Calgary on 14-16 February where Ormerod will look to continue her form.